Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD) stated their members were not involved in diversion of petroleum products to neighboring countries.
This is contained in a statement signed by Abdulkadir Garba, Head, PTD Media Relations, on Monday in Abuja.
It stated the PTD had been working tirelessly to ensure an end to the lingering fuel scarcity in the country.
The Chairman of the association, Mr Salimon Oladiti, in the statement, stated that an allegation against its members of diverting products was false.
He stated the association would sanction any of its members if found wanting.
“We condemned diversion, vandalism and all forms of criminal activities and should any of our members be found wanting, the union as a rule would not hesitate to sanction such member.”
PTD’s reaction follows allegation by Setonji David, the lawmaker representing Badagry II constituency at the Lagos state house of assembly, that some drivers were diverting petrol to neighbouring countries, particularly Benin Republic, through the Seme border in Lagos.
David called on President Muhammadu Buhari to look into the act of sabotage.
David, who made the plea on Sunday in an interview with , stated residents of Badagry have noticed daily movement of tankers fully loaded with petrol, into the Republic of Benin.
The smuggling of the product, he said, is to frustrate efforts of the federal government in ending current fuel scarcity.
“Those of us in Badagry axis have noticed an excruciating and unpalatable trend that is aggravating the hardship and causing further pain for our people,” he stated.
“Since the commencement of the current scarcity, fuel tankers fully loaded with PMS are being ferried to the neighbouring country, precisely Republic of Benin.
“A minimum of 50 tankers are being driven out of the country to Benin through Seme border in Badagry while our people are suffering untold hardship.
“A few fuel stations that sell in Badagry presently sell between N200 and N250 per litre.”
David, who chairs the house committee on physical planning and urban development, stressed that the government must stop the diversion to reduce the suffering of Nigerians.
He urged the government to compel the department of petroleum resources (DPR), security agencies and the Nigeria customs service to end the practice.
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