The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has warned of an impending fuel scarcity in Rivers State due to an escalating crisis involving oil distributors and transport operators. PETROAN has called on the state government to step in and address the issue before it disrupts the supply of petroleum products and further impacts the local economy.
In a statement on Saturday, PETROAN’s National Public Relations Officer, Joseph Obele, identified the Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP) as a key factor in the crisis. PETROAN accused ADITOP of attempting to gain a foothold in the oil and gas sector without adhering to proper protocols, using Rivers State as a testing ground for its operations.
According to Obele, ADITOP’s activities are not sanctioned by major stakeholders, including the Minister of Petroleum and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). The dispute has already led NUPENG to suspend petroleum product lifting in Rivers State due to internal conflicts between ADITOP and its Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch.
Obele warned that if the crisis persists, it could lead to severe fuel shortages, widespread hardship for residents, and significant financial losses for the state.
PETROAN expressed solidarity with NUPENG and PTD, with its National President, Dr. Billy Gillis Harry, directing members in Rivers State to support the unions in resolving the conflict.
The crisis has drawn attention to ADITOP’s controversial role in the downstream oil sector. In December 2024, the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) publicly disowned ADITOP, accusing it of disrupting industrial harmony.
Stakeholders have urged the Rivers State government to intervene promptly to prevent further economic and social disruption caused by the ongoing conflict.
