As scarcity of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) persists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), tanker drivers and other haulage vehicles under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) may begin full operations, as indications emerged yesterday that the Federal Government has officially implemented a 25 per cent freight rate for haulage transporters.
The 25 percent increase means that tankers transporting petroleum products now get N11.87 per litre on every litre as against N9.5 per litre.
NARTO had last month stated that truck owners were operating at less than 50 per cent capacity, stressing that the rising cost of operation was crippling operations as government failed to implement upward review of the rate.
The development added to lingering scarcity in the country, especially in states that are far from depots.
Consequently, they demanded increased freight rate from the Federal Government, which according to the NARTO National President, Yusuf Othman, was currently being implemented by government.
Othman in a statement issued in Abuja, also stated that the association was working hard on how to get palliatives on diesel from the Federal Government, considering the rise in the cost of the commodity lately.
He said, “I am calling on our members (transporters) to get back to full operation now that the 25 percent freight rate has been implemented.
“I can confirm that the 25 percent rate has been approved and implemented. So I am calling on members to get back to operations with a view to reducing the sufferings of the general public.
“In addition, we are trying to look into how to get diesel palliatives from government.”
