The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has asked its members across the country to suspend the planned shutdown of operations.

The suspension order which was conveyed in a statement issued around 1.20 am on Monday and signed by its Executive Secretary, Mr Olufemi Adewole is coming barely five hours after it directed to its members to shut down their depots by Sunday midnight

The statement read: “Following the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians including the National Assembly as represented by the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) and constructive engagement of the Federal Government team by the Labour Unions most affected by the disengagement of our personnel, namely, PENGASSAN, NUPENG, NARTO and the PTD, DAPPMAN has resolved to recall its disengaged personnel for five days to give the FG’s team the opportunity to conclude its process of paying marketers the full outstanding of ₦800 billion with the first tranche being the amount already approved by the Federal Executive Council.”

It added: “We hope that government would make good its promise to see that those issues are resolved by Friday, December 14, 2018 as promised.

“To this end, our disengaged personnel would be recalled on Monday, December 10 and considering the reactivation time or hitherto shutdown system, all depots with fuel stock should be fully active same day.

“DAPPMAN depots are, therefore advised to commence loading operations immediately and await further notification in respect of our long overdue payment.”