A looming protest by fuel marketers at the Port Harcourt refinery was shelved following a crucial closed-door meeting with the management of the refinery. The intervention came amid growing tensions over escalating diesel prices.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which had mobilized for the protest, revealed that the planned action stemmed from multiple hikes in diesel prices — a move marketers described as exploitative, especially since the refinery continues to operate using old stock.
Chairman of NUPENG in the region, Comrade Uche Udunwo, disclosed that fuel marketers were frustrated by the lack of price stability and had demanded transparency regarding the pricing model being adopted by the refinery.
“We had no choice but to prepare for action,” Udunwo said. “You cannot be running on old stock and still justify this kind of increase in diesel prices. Our members are suffering, and the public is bearing the brunt.”
The closed-door meeting reportedly ended with assurances from refinery management to review price mechanisms and improve communication with marketers moving forward.
The suspension of the protest has been welcomed by stakeholders, although many say they will be watching to see if promised reforms are implemented.
This incident highlights the ongoing strain between oil marketers, regulatory authorities, and fuel importers in Nigeria’s volatile downstream sector, especially in the wake of subsidy removal and broader reforms.
