TheNewsGuru

Tag: Tanker Drivers

  • NUPENG suspends strike in Lagos

    NUPENG suspends strike in Lagos

    Fuel tanker drivers under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have suspended their strike in Lagos State.

    The union took the decision on Monday following a meeting between its leadership and representatives of the state government.

    A communique jointly signed by the Commissioner of Energy and Mineral Resources, Olalere Odusote, and the Deputy National President of NUPENG, Solomon Kilanko, was issued at the end of the meeting.

    It contains the seven agreements reached by the union and the government which lead to the suspension of the industrial action of the tanker drivers in the state.

    Some of the challenges faced by tanker drivers such as security agencies, ‘area boys’, ad-hoc levies, bad roads, overloading, the timing of movement, and coordination, formed the critical issues discussed at the meeting.

    Both parties resolved that the state government would meet with the heads of all security agencies and secure their commitment to ensuring the free passage of petroleum products vehicles given their importance to the economy.

    They also agreed to ask relevant government agencies to tackle the menace of ‘area boys’ and establish a dedicated phone number within the next week, to ensure that petroleum products transporters have prompt access to security agencies.

    The meeting resolved to investigate extra-ordinary levies by a particular local government and ask local government authorities to only collect legally due levies.

    On the issue of bad roads, the state government said it would continue to relate with all road users in the planning and execution of road works in the state.

    NUPENG, on its part, promised to ensure all tankers were loaded within the capacities provided for in the regulation and communicated by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

    “Lagos State will, within the next one week, review the restriction of the timing of movement of the petroleum tankers and advise a resolution to ease their access to the tank farms. Union also notes that the ongoing road works are a temporary inhibitor of movement.

    “Lagos State government will immediately set up a standing committee to relate with the union on an ongoing basis to address any issues as they arise,” the statement read.

    Read the full communique issued at the end of the meeting below:

  • Just in: NUPENG orders tanker drivers to withdraw from Lagos

    Just in: NUPENG orders tanker drivers to withdraw from Lagos

    Petroleum tanker drivers may withdraw their services from Lagos from Monday based on a directive from national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

    NUPENG said on Friday the directive followed failure to address three major issues causing tanker drivers pains in the state for months.

    Its National President Williams Akporeha and General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi, gave the directive in a statement titled “NUPENG leadership directs withdrawal of services by petroleum tanker drivers in Lagos State with effect from Monday, August 10, 2020.”

    They said: “The entire rank and file members of the union are deeply pained, frustrated and agonised by the barrage of these challenges being consistently faced by petroleum tanker drivers in Lagos State and are left with no other option but to direct the withdrawal of their services in Lagos State until the Lagos State Government and other relevant stakeholders address these critical challenges.
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    “It is sad and disheartening to note here that we had made several appeals and reports to the Lagos State Government and the Presidential Task Force for the decongestion of Apapa on these challenges but all to no avail.

    “We resolved to embark on an indefinite strike beginning from 12 am, Monday, August 10, 2020 if there are no decisive and convincing actions from the Lagos State Government to address these concerns and challenges.”

  • Respite as tanker drivers suspend strike following NNPC’s intervention

    Respite as tanker drivers suspend strike following NNPC’s intervention

    …approves bridging costs from N6.20 to N7.20

    The Petroleum Tankers Drivers, PTD under the aegis of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has suspended its nationwide strike which began on Monday.

    The suspension followed the intervention of the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation( NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru.

    In a statement by Mr Ndu Ughamadu, NNPC group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division on Monday in Abuja, Baru said his intervention was in the national interest.

    Baru further approved the increase in bridging costs from N6.20 to N7.20.

    Bridging is money paid tanker drivers per kilometer for trucking petroleum products from depots to final destinations.

    ‘Mediating between the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), Baru said ”we understand the difficulty of NARTO to go into negotiations which has to do with the level of bridging allowance.

    ”I am happy to announce that the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, has given his approval to increase the bridging allowance from N6.20 to N7.20”, Baru said in the statement.

    He said the review should give NARTO the breathing space to engage with PTD to immediately discuss and resolve as many of the issues as possible, adding that the gesture was expected to normalise relations between the unions.

    Baru explained that NNPC intervened in the face-off between the unions to ensure the energy security of the nation, adding that ordinarily the dispute was only between PTD and its employer, NARTO.

    Announcing the suspension of the strike, the NUPENG National President, Mr Igwe Achese, said with the intervention of Kachikwu and Baru, NNPC ”has done so much to ensure efficient supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country, hence, the strike is hereby suspended”.

    Responding, the National President of PTD, Mr Salimon Oladiti, applauded the NNPC for the ”timely intervention and urged them to address the unruly behavior of security agencies towards the members”.

    Also, the National President of NARTO, Alhaji Kassim Bataiya, assured Baru that ”with his intervention, the condition of service document would be reviewed to improve the drivers’ welfare”.

    Joseph Akinlaja, Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Downstream, who represented Speaker Yakubu Dogara, commended Baru for his intervention, saying it had saved the country a lot.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the drivers embarked on the strike due to unresolved issues concerning their welfare, poor remuneration, insecurity and bad roads.

    They also complained of harassment by some members of the security forces on the highways.

     

  • Fuel scarcity imminent as Tanker drivers’ strike paralyses loading activities in Lagos

    Fuel scarcity imminent as Tanker drivers’ strike paralyses loading activities in Lagos

    Loading activities at both private depots and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depots in Lagos were on Monday paralysed as Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) commenced a nationwide strike to press home their demands for enhanced welfare.

    Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the strike in Lagos observed that all tank farms in Apapa were empty, without the usual loading of products associated with depots.

    The Apapa depots visited included Total Oil and Gas, Capital Oil and Gas, NIPCO Oil and Gas, Aiteo Oil and Gas, Sahara Oil and Gas, Conoil, as well as Mobil Oil and Gas.

    The drivers were seen in groups discussing, while others were leaving the depots for unknown destinations.

    Alhaji Taofeek Lawal, the Head, Corporate Communications of NIPCO, Apapa told NAN that all depots in Apapa were empty as a result of the strike.

    According to him, there are no loading activities at present because the tanker drivers are on strike.

    He appealed to the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), PTD, NNPC representatives and other stakeholders to step in and find a lasting solution to the strike.

    Meanwhile, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, the South-West Chairman of NUPENG had told NAN that the Federal Government’s representatives were meeting with NARTO and NUPENG representatives, to resolve the matter.

    Korodo said that the outcome of the meeting would decide if the strike would continue or not.

    He, however, said that there was no distribution or loading of products in any part of the country.

    One of the depot officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, however, told NAN that the strike was uncalled for.

    He said that the tanker drivers should have resolved the problem with the truck owners, instead of resorting to go on strike.

    The depot official noted that the country had lost over N20 billion to the ongoing strike.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the drivers under the aegis of Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD) an arm of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) had said it will commence a nationwide strike on Monday (today) following the FG’s refusal to honour agreements entered into with the union.

  • 30% of tanker drivers hypertensive, medical doctor affirms

    Dr Taiwo Adekanmbi, a Medical Doctor, from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has said no fewer than 30 per cent of tanker drivers nationwide were hypertensive.

    Adekanmbi disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday in Lagos at the ongoing national training for tanker drivers organised by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), a branch of NUPENG.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the PTD branch of NUPENG commenced training of no fewer than 1,500 of its members on Jan. 17 in its efforts to reduce the rate of accidents on the highways.

    According toAdekanmbi, majority of the tanker drivers are not taking proper care of their health.

    “About 30 per cent of the tanker drivers are hypertensive and majority of them do not go for medical check-ups.

    “This factor has contributed to the high rate of crashes on our roads involving tanker drivers who are suffering from poor eye-sight and fatigue,” he said.

    Adekanmbi who was one of the facilitators at the training advised tanker drivers to always go for routine medical checkups.

    He said that routine medical checkups would enable the drivers know their health status before embarking on any journey.

    Also, Mr Ajayi Michael, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) commended the organisers saying the training would have positive impact on the attitudes of the drivers.

    The training would also enlighten the drivers on safety and how they could relate with other road users.

    “The training is one of the best things that can happen to the tanker drivers.

    “Majority of them see themselves as kings on the road without considering other road users.

    “The programme will help reduce avoidable crashes usually caused by tanker drivers on our roads.

    “We taught them what to do before, during and after every trip.

    “ A good driver must have enough rest before embarking on the journey and always obey traffic rules while on the road.’’

    Michael said that no fewer than 1,500 drivers would undergo the 15-day training.

    “ I think if 1,500 drivers participate in the exercise successfully, it will reduce the carnage and fatalities on our roads to its barest minimum,” he said.