(Ecofin Agency) - Oil tanker drivers in Nigeria have embarked on a nationwide strike over low wages and poor roads. The drivers, which commenced the strike on Monday, have threatened to stop supply until their requests are met.

According to the chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association (PTD), Salimon Oladiti, aside from low wages and poor quality of roads, the drivers are also protesting against harassment by security officials and risk of dismissal due to unresolved issues within petroleum agencies.

“There is no going back. The strike is definitely going ahead as planned and it will be total because all loading depots and fuel terminals will be shut down. We have fully mobilized and sensitized all members,” he said.

The oil tanker drivers under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), have not set an end date for their strike, Cogent Ojobo, a regional chairman for NUPENG explained.

The tanker drivers for the past three years have been in talks with the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to increase their salary but the association had refused, claiming that the government has not increased their fares, so they will not increase their salary. Due to this, NUPENG had initiated talks with the Nigerian government last year, but the deadline for an agreement was not met.

Anita Fatunji