(Ecofin Agency) - In Nigeria, the ongoing strike action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has affected loading from most depots in Lagos and these depots are likely to run out of fuel soon, Punch news reports.

This industrial action which began last week’s Thursday has reduced loading at Apapa oil depot, due to the absences of staff of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund Board (PEF), which endorses the trucks being used by Independent Marketers.According to an official of an independent marketing company in Lagos, terminal owners can only load the contents in the tanks, but have been unable to receive any product from vessels and “if they finish what is in their tanks now and bring in any vessel, the Department of Petroleum Resources is not going to certify it for discharge. They do a lot of tests on any product that comes to Apapa. That is how it is going to affect the supply in Lagos if the strike lingers on. Depots in Apapa should finish their stock on or before Wednesday. I don’t see any depot that will still have stock after Wednesday in Apapa,” the official commented.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) last week warned members of the public against panic purchase of petroleum products due to the ongoing strike.

“I think the main impact will be this week when production facilities, export terminals and gas supply to power plants will be shut down. It will affect the government’s revenue significantly. I pray we don’t get to that extent, because the economy is already in a bad shape. That is why the government should act fast and engage the union to resolve the issues,” Chika Onuegbu (photo), the Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Rivers State chapter, said.

The Federal Government last week said it would hold talks with the leadership of PENGASSAN on Monday in order to resolve the problem.

Anita Fatunji