Petroleum products distributors under the aegis of the Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP), has opposed the alleged increase of truck loading fees for petrol by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association (PTD) as the headwinds in the downstream market remained unabated
The National President of the association, Alhaji Lawal Dan-Zaki, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, cited an “arbitrary increase” of loading fees imposed by the PTD group, which he described as an alarming abuse and impunity.
Dan-Zaki clarified: “At present, the PTD collects N60,000 per truck for loading and is planning a further increase.
”We in the ADITOP vehemently oppose this. This exorbitant increase places an undue burden on the already struggling general public and serves no productive purpose at this critical juncture in the downstream sector”, he added.
The ADITOP leader stated that his group believed that no association in the oil and gas industry should be permitted to collect unreasonable levies per truck of PMS, since “the association aims to restore a fair and just system that promotes cooperation and sustainability across the industry.
“Due to these unpatriotic and illegal collections, the members of ADITOP wish to inform the general public and all stakeholders in the downstream sector of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry that the association will soon commence nationwide operations.
“This will include but not be limited to nationwide road service and safety measures for members in addition to the collection of levies”, Dan-Zaki added.
Worried by what he termed blatant impunity against the association’s members, the ADITOP President called on the Federal Government to promptly intervene and sto the petroleum tanker drivers from terrorising other stakeholders in the oil industry.
