Jubilations as NARTO suspends planned nationwide strike

The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, has shortly after it’s meeting with the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri and the oil marketers, suspended its planned nationwide strike.

The National President of NARTO, Othman Yusuf, who made this known shortly after the meeting held in Abuja, directed members to immediately resume petroleum loading activities.

The Nations News Nigeria reports that the meeting was attended by the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, NARTO, oil marketers and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA.

Recall that the Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu alongside stakeholders had earlier met with NARTO shortly after tanker drivers suspended operations and stopped lifting of petroleum products amid harsh economic realities.

NARTO members had threatened shutdown all over the country beginning Monday over the high cost of Automotive Gas Oil also known as diesel which is used to fuel their trucks for the movement of petroleum products across Nigeria.

The association explained that the decision to withdraw its operation was due to the high operational costs in the industry.

NARTO emphasized that “Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol which now sells at over N600 per litre, the price of diesel has skyrocketed of late, no thanks to the forex crisis in the country. At the moment, diesel sells above N1,250 per litre in Nigeria” he stated.