The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has pledged solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in the ongoing struggle against monopolistic and anti-competition practices being advanced by the Dangote Group in the downstream oil and gas sector.
NARTO, in a statement signed on Sunday by its National President, Yusuf Lawal Othman, said while it recognizes and appreciates the injection of new trucks and other investments into the petroleum distribution value chain, it strongly and unequivocally rejects any plan for free distribution of petroleum products.
The association explained that such an approach was not only unsustainable but also a deliberate attempt to undermine and eliminate the thousands of independent transporters who form the backbone of Nigeria’s _petroleum distribution network.
“At present, NARTO members collectively operate more than 30,000 trucks across the country, employing thousands of drivers, assistants, and service providers. These operations sustain millions of dependents and are supported by financial commitments from both local and international banks, aswell as marketers and depot owners,” it said.
The association maintained that any attempt to eliminate the established distribution structure would lead to loss of investment, destroy livelihoods, threaten national security, jeopardise energy security andexploit consumers in the long run.
Furthermore, NARTO said Section 212 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the regulatory stance of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) clearly emphasize the need for a level playing field in the downstream sector.
“To ignore this provision is to endanger fair competition, consumer protection, and the overall health of the Nigerian economy,” it added.
Consequently, the association has called on the Federal Government and its relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and The Dangote Group, to immediately create a forum for meaningful dialogue among all stakeholders.
It advised that such a platform must be aimed at ensuring that no operator is strangulated, that fair competition is guaranteed, andnthat the welfare of millions of Nigerians who _ depend on the petroleum transport and distribution sector is safeguarded.
NARTO reaffirmed its total support for NUPENG in this struggle, emphasising that its collective action was not against investment or industrial growth but against monopolistic practices that threaten jobs, national security, and the broader Nigerian economy.
