The strike by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) worsened on Tuesday, forcing many residents of Enugu State to walk as fuel stations were shut by fuel dealers.

On Monday, activities in the state proceeded without incident. Petrol stations belonging to both major and independent marketers had dispensed products to motorists and other end-users.

But the situation changed on Tuesday morning as the fuel stations were locked by their owners, refusing to dispense the product to willing buyers.

The development, it was learnt, followed the stalemate in the discussion over the industrial dispute between NUPENG and the Dangote group regarding unionisation at the Dangote Refinery.

Fuel stations that normally open before 7 am refused to open. Those that usually open around 5 am did open but closed before 7 am after reports that enforcement teams had been formed to ensure compliance with the strike order.

The Guardian gathered that the petrol union in the state had insisted that any station caught dispensing the product would pay a penalty of up to N500,000 for contravening the order, thus forcing them to close their businesses.
Black marketers sold four litres of fuel at N7,000. There were places where the same quantity was sold for N8,000.

The development led to a hike in transport fares as residents resorted to walking to their offices and other engagements.

For instance, the 608 bus that charged N300 from Gariki Park to New Market raised fare to N500, while the minibuses increased to N600 from N400.

“The transport fare has changed because we got our supply from the black market. Even if you are going from a bus stop to a bus stop, it is now N200”, a bus conductor said.

However, the majority of the transporters were unaware of why the fuel stations were under lock and key. While some attributed the shortage to a planned increase, others blamed a scarcity of the product.

“I don’t know why the filling stations are not selling fuel. They are locked everywhere. It is the fuel bought yesterday that I am still using”, Ekene, a bus driver, said

Another tricycle operator, Ikenna, stated: “I was at the NNPC station this morning to buy fuel; I was getting close to the pump when NUPENG people came and stopped them. I don’t have enough fuel. I heard that black market is almost N2,000 a litre. So I have decided to go home and wait until they call off the strike”.