Following the blockage of the Olu Obasanjo way, GRA, Port Harcourt, Rivers State with tankers by NUPENG on Wednesday morning, which interrupted the free flow of traffic, the NSCDC Commandant General (CG), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR had directed a high powered delegation to meet with the State Executive of NUPENG and other stakeholders to resolve the situation amicably.
NUPENG alleged that the Rivers State Command of the Corps did not follow due process in handling the case of 3 Petroleum tankers impounded and handed over to the NSCDC Rivers State by the Nigerian Army, 6 Division Garrison, Port Harcourt on 4th November 2022.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Rivers State Command condemned this act by NUPENG which was borne out of its refusal to accept the forfeiture of the 3 tankers.
According to the State Commandant, the Command obtained the forfeiture order from the Federal High Court 6, Port Harcourt Judicial Division on the 20th of December, 2022.
The command further placed an advert in the Punch Newspaper and Newspaper Surveillance, volume 24, on Monday 23rd January 2023 to notify the general public of the court order and to give room for objections if any, within a stipulated time.
The Corps wishes to inform the public that due process was followed in handling the tankers and the petroleum products due to their flammable nature. Also, the trucks were neither illegally impounded nor defaced as alleged by NUPENG.
However, both parties have met on the matter and an amicable resolution had been reached with NUPENG and other stakeholders pledging their unalloyed support in the fight against oil bunkering activities.
