The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has directed members to commence petroleum loading and freighting.
The National President of NARTO, Othman Yusuf, gave the directive after a meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, with NARTO, oil marketers and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, (NMDPRA).
In in a letter dated 15th February, addressed to the General Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) and signed by its National President, Othman Yusuf, NARTO had directed members to withdraw their trucks from petroleum product loading activities with effect from Monday, 19th February.
The association noted that the decision to withdraw its operation was due to the high operational costs in the industry.
The association had recently raised concern over the high cost of diesel required to power its trucks for the transportation of petroleum products across the country.
In its letter, the association said it can no longer continue in business within the context of the current economic situation in the country.
“We agreed to suspend and withdraw the action and we commence operations immediately,” Mr Yusuf said on Tuesday.
