Petrol Scarcity looms as truck drivers start strike on Monday

AgegePulse Magazine 

This was contained in a statement NARTO’s National President, Alhaji Yusuf Lawal Othman released in Abuja on Thursday.

Othman said in consequence of the ugly situation, the association intimated the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Minister of Petroleum Resources; Director General, Department of State Services (DSS); Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) Chief Executive Officer; Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group Chief Executive Officer; and the Marketers about their plight through letters but the correspondence brought no impact.

He added that the lingering condition has made them to resort to park their trucks saying, “We will have to suspend operations from Monday. We cannot continue to operate at a loss. Most people have parked. A lot more are going to park.”

Othman wrote further:“Everybody is aware that all our consumables in terms of operation are not produced in the country.

“So, by virtue of the rate of dollars, every consumable has increased. But the freight they are paying us has been the same even during Buhari’s time.

“So how is that feasible? During Buhari’s time, the dollar was N650. Today, the dollar is now N1,615. The average freight from Lagos to Abuja is N32.

“What I mean by local, you load Lagos, you discharge in Lagos. And bridging, you load from Lagos, you come to Abuja. Lagos to Lagos, we are paid N120,000.

“AGO alone to distribute fuel within Lagos is N140,000 because it is N1,400 per litre. So, they give you N120,000 and you spend N140,000. So, how do you want to operate?

“Talk less about the cost of vehicles, cost of loading, driver’s allowance. That is for local. For bridging, Lagos to Abuja, they gave us N32.

“If you have a truck of 40,000 litres, you are talking of N1,280,000-N1,216,000. Less 5% of the amount of N1,280,000 Withholding Tax N64,000. Less 55,000 loading expenses and 15,000 driver allowance. Total expenses N134,000 while balance is N1,146,000. AGO is N1400 for 900 litres, totalling N1, 260,000. There is a total loss of N114,000.

OrijoReporter

Lagos Yellow Taxi/Cab Drivers Launch Operational Mobile App

... As LASG Promises Level Playing Field for All Operators

Lagos State Yellow Taxi/Cab Drivers Association on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, launched a digital Mobile App to enhance their operational efficiency, with a warning from the State Government that the drivers must be more civil and operate in line with regulations that guide public transportation.

Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde gave the warning during the launch, advising members of the taxi association to comply with the extant laws and stipulated regulations to ensure success and sustainability of the initiative.

Speaking at the Eko Cab App Launch held at the Events Centre, Hakeem Balogun Street, Agidingbi, Ikeja, the Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Oluseyi Whenu urged the commercial vehicles operators to leverage digital technology to bring innovation into their business.

“The State Government is not out to punish anyone, as you go digital today, I want you to know that it places more responsibility on you. You are expected to be more civil and friendly with your customers more than before, while you are expected to operate in line with the extant laws and regulations that guide public transportation in the State”, Oladeinde warned.

While pledging government's continued support and equal opportunity for all investors in public transportation, the Commissioner affirmed that the State Government would create a level playing field and enabling environment for all investors to ensure a quick return on their investments.

“The present administration will continue to implement government programmes and policies that will be of great benefit to public transport operators while we pledge our commitment to creating an enabling environment that will attract more investors into public transportation; we will give equal opportunity to all, we are not biased nor one-sided, we will continue to support all good initiatives that can enhance free flow of traffic”, Oladeinde reiterated

The Commissioner commended the Lagos State Taxi Drivers for their support for the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda by digitalising their operations in line with global standard practice, imploring them to support the ongoing reforms to make the transport system rank among the best in the world.

Oladeinde stressed that compliance with the traffic law will ensure reduction in traffic gridlocks and road crashes, just as it will restore safety and sanity on roads in the metropolis.

In his remarks, the General Secretary of the Lagos State Yellow Taxi Drivers & EkoCab Association, Mr. Taiwo Omolekan thanked the Lagos State Government for their consistent support towards the realisation of the EkoCab App and its take-off scheduled for March 17, 2020.

He disclosed that the application has been designed to enable the Ministry of Transportation monitor commuter patterns to aid the State government in proffering innovation regulations and solutions for overall improvements in the Lagos transportation sector.

Omolekan maintained that the launch would enable the Association bridge the gap created by the Okada/Tricycle restrictions in certain parts of the State while operators will observe strict adherence to the provisions of the State Traffic Law to ensure better service delivery.