Commercial vehicle drivers and park operators in Enugu State have called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) to provide special treatment to its members at all NNPC retail stations across the state.
The demand was made during the ongoing Sensitization Programme, tagged ‘NNPC & You’, which was held in Enugu State.
The Sensitization Programme, which has held in some states including Borno, Taraba, is part of the company’s efforts to engage with its stakeholders and improve its services to meet their needs.
Stakeholders from five major parks in Enugu, including Holy Ghost park, Gariki Park, Oye Emene Park, Entraco Park, Abakpa, used the opportunity to express their concerns and suggestions on how NNPC can improve its services to commercial vehicle drivers and park operators.
One of the key demands made by the stakeholders at Holy Ghost Park was the provision of separate filling tanks for commercial drivers at NNPC retail stations which, according to them, will facilitate easier access to fuel and reduce the time spent waiting in queues.
The union leaders also requested hire purchase options on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to promote its adoption among commercial vehicle drivers, noting that CNG is a cleaner and more efficient fuel, but its high upfront cost is a major barrier to adoption.
Similarly, at National Union Park, the stakeholders expressed concern about limited number of NNPC retail outlets in the state and requested for new outlets in the area.
They also called for standardized fuel prices across different filling stations, noting that the current disparity in prices is unfair to commercial drivers.
The Entraco Park stakeholders expressed interest in converting their buses to CNG, but requested demonstrations of its efficiency and operation.
They also complained about NNPC retail stations not selling fuel in gallons to commercial drivers, instead prioritizing outside customers.
The NNPC Ltd. Team, thanked the stakeholders for their feedback and assured that their concerns would be addressed, noting that NNPC Ltd. is committed to providing excellent service to its customers, including commercial vehicle drivers and park operators.
The sensitization programme, which was attended by drivers, commuters, and other stakeholders in the community, featured presentations on the safe and efficient use of petroleum products, as well as the importance of adhering to safety protocols at retail stations.
Some lucky stakeholders went home with gift items and freebies following raffle draws at various motor parks.
