The National Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Comrade Salimon Oladiti, has said the ban on night travelling by Tanker Drivers have helped in saving lives and drastically reducing the rate of accidents especially at night.
He also said through the collaboration with stakeholders especially the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the rate of accidents involved Tanker Drivers had reduced while Tanker Drivers’ involvement in Petroleum Pipeline vandalisation has been tackled with all the seriousness it deserves.
He spoke in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Thursday, during the 5th Quadrennial Delegates Conference with the theme, “Impact of Insecurity on Effective and Efficient Distribution of Petroleum Products in Nigeria.”
The conference is being attended by thousands of Tanker Drivers across the country as well as stakeholders in the Petroleum products supply value chain.
Also in attendance were the President of NUPENG, Comrade Williams Akporeha; National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Debo Ahmed; President of Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alhaji Yusuf Lawal, among others.
The PTD National Chairman in his opening remarks recalled that his concerns for the safety of lives of Petroleum Tanker Drivers dated back to his younger days as a driver and on assumption of office in 2014, he made a policy to inculcate discipline among members hence the decision to ban night traveling.
“We launched a vigorous campaign to ban night movement of Petroleum Products. Today, the ban on night traveling has saved lives and reduced drastically the rate of accidents especially at night,” he said.
He added that while accidents involving Tanker Drivers had reduced, fuel scarcity has been minimised due to the commitment of PTD members who are always on duty.
He disclosed that the PTD partnership with NARTO, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the FRSC and other relevant stakeholders which has brought incessant strikes by PTD members to the barest minimum.
He also commended the FRSC Corps Marshall, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi for collaborating with PTD to introduce the use and enforcement of speed limited in their trucks.
“This measure helped in a tremendous way to reduce incidences of Tanker accidents on our roads. Instead of being enemies, we have partnered so well like friends and mutually helped to reduce carnage on our roads. For that, our wonderful Corps Marshal deserves a special award today,” he added.
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