Fuel scarcity: NUPENG reads riot act to ‘unscrupulous’ marketers
…vows to sanction dealers hoarding fuel 

The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) at the weekend read a riot act to marketers racketeering and hoarding fuel, thereby compounding the sufferings of Nigerians as the fuel crisis lingers.
The union in a statement by the president, Williams Akporeha and the General Secretary Afolabi Olawale identified unpatriotic activities of some ‘unscrupulous’ marketers as the reason for the lingering fuel crisis despite the efforts of the union.
“Any Marketer selling above the approved ex-depot prices will have our Union to contend with henceforth,” the union said while urging its members in the distribution chain to remain steadfast and dedicated to serving the nation.
Lamenting that things are getting out hand, the leadership of the union called on all concerned authorities to quickly stem this ugly trend.
The union’s leadership said the union as part of demonstration of its  commitment to service, puts all its members in the supply chains of the petroleum products distribution from the depots workers, petroleum tanker drivers and petrol stations workers on red alert to serve, and they have been readily available and dutifully carrying out the patriotic task even at the risk of their lives due to the prevailing security challenges. 
“Even at the moment of this press release, seven ( 7) of our members who are tanker drivers moving product from A.Y Shafa and some other deports from south-south to the Northern part of the country are hiding in the bushes of highway along Benin-Auchi-lokoja roads due to attacks by bandits and hoodlums,” the union stated. 
It however noted the leadership had reached out to law enforcement agents for rescue and protection.
NUPENG’s leadership expressed that more worrisome and biggest obstacle to the usual effective and patriotic services of its members is the depressing and frustrating antics of some unscrupulous marketers who are busy using this seemingly initial break in logistics from offshore vessels to exploit and extort the hapless public through racketeering and hoarding of the product.
It stated, “The leadership of our great Union for the third time in the last twelve (12) months is being deeply constrained to raise concerns and worries over the pains Nigerians are going through to get Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) for their daily businesses, movements, and wellbeing. We find this situation very appalling and shameful.
“We wish to let the general public know that the rank and file members of our Union deeply empathize with them and share in their pains.”
The union maintained that it condemned the “brutal exploitation of the masses by these Shylock Marketers in the strongest terms”, and we have resolved to commence sanctioning any marketer found to be indulging in the unwholesome and disgusting practices.
NUPENG said, it was not oblivious of  some decent and patriotic marketers who are willing and ready to do business in ways and manners that will not exploit and inflict pains on the public. 
“We are therefore calling on these sets of Marketers not to be discouraged or relent, but to keep cooperating with the union and other patriotic stakeholders to help stem this ugly trend,” it stated.  
It equally urged the government to also be sincere and make the product available in such quantities, ways and manners that will not give room for these unscrupulous elements to be holding the nation to ransom. 
“The few wicked ones cannot and should not be allowed to overwhelm us,” the union stressed.