NUPENG: New Tanker Depot Operating Hours in Nigeria Set to 6 PM

• The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of NUPENG has mandated new operating hours for its members at petroleum depots.
• Tanker drivers must conclude all depot operations by 6:00 p.m. daily and are prohibited from entering depots after 5:00 p.m.
• This directive was issued to address rising insecurity on highways, including armed robbery and truck hijacking targeting drivers and vehicles.
• The Lagos Union Zonal leadership has instructed members to comply with these revised hours, which followed a meeting in Ibeto.
• The changes are anticipated to affect daily loading and distribution schedules for petroleum products, particularly in Lagos and surrounding regions.

The union's directive specifically mandates that all petroleum tanker drivers conclude their depot-related activities by 6:00 p.m. each day, with entry into any depot strictly prohibited after 5:00 p.m.

The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has issued a significant directive, altering the operational hours for its members across Nigeria. This new mandate requires all tanker drivers to conclude their activities at petroleum depots by 6:00 p.m. each day. Furthermore, the directive imposes an earlier restriction, prohibiting any petroleum tanker driver from entering a depot after 5:00 p.m. daily.

This crucial decision emerged from a recent meeting held in Ibeto, following which the Lagos Union Zonal leadership took immediate steps to instruct its members to adhere strictly to these revised operating hours. The NUPENG 6pm depot operations rule is a direct response to escalating concerns regarding the safety of drivers and the security of valuable petroleum products during late-hour transportation. The union has emphasized that these measures are essential to safeguard its members and the integrity of the supply chain.

The primary motivation behind NUPENG's new directive is the alarming increase in insecurity along Nigeria's highways. The union has specifically cited a rise in incidents of armed robbery and the hijacking of trucks, which directly target both the drivers and their vehicles. These criminal activities pose substantial threats to the lives of tanker drivers and the safe transit of petroleum products.

By implementing this Nigeria petroleum depot curfew, NUPENG aims to mitigate the risks associated with operating during late hours, a period identified as particularly vulnerable to criminal enterprises. The union underscored the necessity of these measures to protect its personnel, their trucks, and the valuable petroleum products they transport from security threats that are more prevalent after dark. This proactive stance reflects a serious commitment to Lagos tanker driver security and the broader safety of petroleum logistics.

The introduction of these revised operating hours is expected to have a notable impact on the daily loading and distribution schedules for petroleum products throughout Nigeria. Depot operators and transporters, especially those functioning within Lagos and its neighboring areas, will need to adjust their logistics and planning to comply with the new 6:00 p.m. cut-off for operations and the 5:00 p.m. entry restriction.

This Petroleum Tanker Drivers PTD directive will necessitate significant changes in Nigeria oil logistics, potentially affecting the efficiency and timing of deliveries. All stakeholders involved in the petroleum supply chain, including depot owners and transport companies, have been strongly urged to comply with the new regulations to ensure the continued, albeit adjusted, flow of petroleum product distribution without unnecessary disruptions.

This directive by NUPENG creates an immediate compliance requirement for all petroleum depot operators and transporters in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos and surrounding areas. Lawyers and compliance officers must advise clients on adhering to the new 6 PM daily operational cut-off and 5 PM entry restriction to avoid supply chain disruptions, potential penalties, or contractual breaches related to delivery schedules.

Source: Original reporting via Daily Trust