Fuel tanker drivers suspended deliveries to Abuja

On 3 August 2010 Nigerian fuel tanker drivers suspended deliveries to Abuja, the Nigerian capital, to protest the poor condition of the country’s roads. The drivers’ action follows the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum that their union, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), gave the federal government to take steps to fix the roadways. The drivers claim that the roads are especially poor in and around the capital and that the lack of maintenance often causes accidents and inconveniences to travelers. Government officials, representatives of the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) and NUPENG are expected to meet on 4 August to negotiate the terms of a settlement. The strike could seriously affect business operations in Abuja, but is not expected to affect fuel supplies in any other Nigerian cities.