The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers, NUPENG, made good its threat of embarking on a solidarity strike in support of the sacked Lagos doctors, yesterday.
A reliable source told Vanguard that
there was no lifting of petroleum products in any of the depots in Lagos.
Although the situation has not resulted to fuel scarcity yet as filling stations are still selling the product they have in stock, Lagos residents are apprehensive of what awaits them when the filling stations run out of product.
A cross section of those talked to over the development appealed to the state government and the striking doctors to reach an amicable agreement before the situation gets out of hand.
However, many believed that NUPENG might have resolved to embark on strike just to get even with the state for enforcing the no parking directive on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.
An official of NUPENG who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, said the union actually stopped loading products from the depots since Tuesday.
Though Vanguard gathered the President of NUPENG, Mr. Igwe Achese, is out of the country, he had already given directive that the strike should commenced Tuesday, on the day the nation’s celebrated 13th years of uninterrupted civil rule.
The official said: “We have begun a solidarity strike in support of the striking Lagos doctors since Tuesday, May 29. Tankers have stopped loading from the depots and what petrol stations are selling now are the products they have in stock. It is after they exhaust what they have in the filling stations that the impact will be felt. The strike is only targeted at Lagos where doctors have been sacked by the government. It is aimed at putting pressure on the state government to recall the sacked doctors unconditionally because an injury to one is an injury to the other.”
Though the NUPENG said the strike was limited to Lagos, but 90 per cent of petroleum products in the country are from Lagos. Expectedly, if the action persists, it will definitely cause a nationwide fuel scarcity.
Medical associations in Osun and Oyo states have also threatened similar actions.