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  • “I initiated Health Insurance Scheme for Petroleum Tanker Drivers on wheels,” PTD Nat’l Chairman, Osesua tells NUPENG scribe

    “I initiated Health Insurance Scheme for Petroleum Tanker Drivers on wheels,” PTD Nat’l Chairman, Osesua tells NUPENG scribe

    … insists he was the brain behind scheme

    The National Chairman of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG, Comrade Lucky Osesua, has cautioned drivers across the 4 zones of the union not to be taken in by the gambit of the General Secretary of NUPENG, Afolabi Olawale, on the reintroduction and launch of the health insurance scheme.

    Osesua said that he was the brain behind the programme, which he had earlier introduced to the drivers as the Branch Chairman.

    Osesua, on behalf of the Branch, urged PTD members to critically assess the current situations instead of falling for Afolabi’s rhetoric in the mainstream and social media.

    He said they should make up their minds and take informed decisions about their welfare, health, life, wellbeing and livelihoods and never allow anyone to negatively alter their destinies by flaunting a caricature of the original idea.

    Osesua, in a widely circulated press release, signed by him and the National Secretary, Comrade Humble Obinna Power, said the scheme under his leadership sought to address the welfare, well-being, life and livelihoods of all members of the Branch who traverse the length and breadth of the country on wheels.

    He, however, expressed regrets that the scheme was now shrouded in secrecy, adding that signatories had been changed and there was no more transparency and accountability in it, contrary to the initial scheme, which was in the best interest and welfare of the drivers on wheels and principal officers of the Union.

    “The attention of the National leadership of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has been drawn to the offer of the General Secretary of the Union, Afolabi Olawale and the President, Williams Akporeha to launch and reintroduce an existing health insurance scheme which was introduced by me earlier in my tenure, but unfortunately the duo have deliberately manipulated the health insurance scheme, making it so obnoxious for our members to key into, due to the regime of multiple taxes, levies and rates being introduced at various depots and loading stations.

    “Putting the records straight, my humble self and my deputy, Comrade Dayyabu Yusuf Garga alongside the entire executives introduced the health insurance scheme for our drivers to have a new lease of life and access to quality and affordable health care in any part of the country once they tender their automated identity cards which contain their biometrics.

    “Afolabi Olawale cannot try to take the credit as though the initiative was his brainchild. What they are doing currently lacks acceptability, consultation, education or due process; they are only using coercive force to lure our members into it, which is against the good intent of the health insurance scheme.

    “Our reaction underscores the lack of attraction in the NUPENG programmes and policies which ostensibly lack direction, sincerity and purpose as it is being orchestrated by the current leadership under Afolabi Olawale (General Secretary) and Williams Akporeha (President) which is an admittance of their usual disaster in what they tagged “Health Insurance for Petroleum Tanker Drivers on the Wheel.”

    “We therefore urge our members to take informed decisions about their welfare, health, life, wellbeing, and livelihoods and never allow anyone to negatively alter their destinies through dubious and questionable scheme.

    “My humble self, my deputy Comrade Dayyabu Yusuf Garga and the entire constitutionally-recognised and legitimate national executives of PTD Branch of NUPENG are aware that National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is one of the health financing options adopted by Nigeria for improved healthcare access especially to the low income earners.

    “One of the key operators of the scheme is the health care providers. Thus, their uptake of the scheme is fundamental to the survival of the scheme. But laughably, Afolabi, as usual, was attempting to take credit for it while also trying to reinvent the wheel. This is most ridiculous and unthinkable.

    “However, we have gathered hard facts from impeccable sources that Afolabi who is now driving the process only redesigned it to further impoverish our members because the intention is reactionary and also serve as a Greek gift to hoodwink our members, but little did he know that our members have made up their minds not to fall for his anti union antics and extortionist tendencies.

    “It is therefore imperative for us to state clearly that the scheme which is set to kick off on Thursday, December 14, 2023 was only hurriedly reintroduced to launder Afolabi’s already battered image and to seek empathy from our members as he craves for recognition, acceptance and legitimacy.

    “For those who know Afolabi, he is such an individual who doesn’t have any track record or history of making people happy but rather he derives pleasure in inflicting hardship and pains on people for selfish and greedy intents.

    “We are still surprised why the General Secretary of our parent union will be among signatories to PTD’s bank accounts, especially the one for the health insurance scheme and others. This is the first time this will be happening; it is alien to our byelaws and extant rules, and moreso, there are more than a hundred other branches both in formal and informal sectors; why is he investing so much passion and interest in the goose that lays the golden egg: the PTD Branch?”

    “In the light of the above, we passionately appeal to all our members to remain steadfast and law abiding by showing solidarity with us as we continue in the struggle to restore decency, sanity, constitutional democratic process and rule of law; and more importantly to bring back dignity to our labour in order to revive our socio-economic fortunes as well as freedom and pride. Thank you all, and God bless you.

    SIGNED:

    Comrade Lucky Osesua
    (National Chairman)

    Comrade Humble Obinna Power (National Secretary).

  • Oil theft: FG releases seized Norwegian oil tanker after plea bargain

    Oil theft: FG releases seized Norwegian oil tanker after plea bargain

    The Nigerian Navy on Sunday returned a Norwegian-registered vessel, MT Heroic Idun, caught attempting to steal Nigeria’s crude oil in August 2022.

    The navy arrested the oil tanker and its 26 Indian, Pilipino, Sri Lankan, and Polish nationals in August 2022, and later convicted them in court and fined $15 million.

    Capt. Mohammed Adamu, Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base, Bonny, handed over MT Heroic Idun to its owner, Idun Maritime Limited at Bonny, Rivers, after it met with the plea bargain conditions.

    He said after the seizure of the merchant ship, its crew members were charged to the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt for trial in January.

    “The Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), MT Heroic Idun and its 26 foreign crew were arrested after entering Nigeria’s waters unauthorized with intent to lift crude oil.

    “Subsequently, they were charged to court and later pleaded guilty as well as elected voluntarily to enter into a plea bargain agreement with Nigeria.

    “The vessel and its crew also agreed to make restitution to the Federal Government.

    “The plea bargain was in the interest of justice, public and for public policy interest in line with Section 270 (5) (a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015,” he said.

    Adamu said after the conviction and sentencing by the court that MT Heroic Idun and its owners were mandated to pay conviction fines and restitution.

    “The owners also agreed to make an apology to the Federal Republic of Nigeria both in print and electronic media as well as Lloyd’s List.

    “On its part, the Federal Government agreed not to further criminally prosecute and/or investigate the vessel, her owners, charterers or her crew in the matter of her crime against the state.

    “The owners of the vessel later apologized to the Federal Government on the Lloyd’s List on May 12 while the same apology was published in the Punch Newspaper of May 18.

    “Subsequently, MT Heroic Idun, having fulfilled all the aforementioned conditions of the plea bargain to the satisfaction of the court, has been released to its owners, Idun Maritime Limited,” he added.

    The navy officer said the vessel’s release had the consent of the Federal High Court as well as approval of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    He said the prosecution of the seafarers demonstrated the navy’s commitment to ensure that only valid and authorized vessels were allowed into the country.

    According to him, the navy will continue to ensure that only vessels that obtain permits and have security clearance are allowed to lift crude oil or gas from the country.

    “Consequently, all maritime stakeholders, key players and seafarers operating within the Nigeria waters are to carefully conduct their maritime operations within the extant regulations and observance of the law.

    “We will bring to book those whose operation infringe on the provisions of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, 2019 and all maritime laws and conventions acceded to Nigeria,” he warned.

  • Jos tanker explosion kill 13 persons – Police

    Jos tanker explosion kill 13 persons – Police

    The Police Command in Plateau said that tanker explosion that occurred at Bauchi Road junction in Jos North Local Government Area claimed the lives of 13 persons and destroyed 28 shops.

    DSP Alfred Alabo, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Jos.

    Alabo said that the tanker who crashed due to break failure, also destroyed eight other vehicles, six tricycles and two motorcycles.

    ”The ten persons who sustained various degrees of injuries during the incident are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals.

    ”Bodies of the deceased have also been buried according to Islamic rights,” he said.

    Alabo, who said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Bartholomew Onyeka, who visited the scene of the incident, regretted the action of some youths in the area who burnt down the official vehicle of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    The PPRO added that the Commissioner advised residents of the state to be law abiding at all times.

  • Petrol tanker crashes, kills 10 persons in Jos

    Petrol tanker crashes, kills 10 persons in Jos

    A tanker conveying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on Thursday crashed and killed 10 persons at Bauchi Road junction area of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau

    DSP Alfred Alabo, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Police Command in the state, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Jos.

    Alabo said that the vehicle, which lost control, crashed and burst in flames, burning three other vehicles and two tricycles at the scene.

    ”Thie afternoon, we received information from a good Samaritan that a tanker conveying PMS lost control, crashed and burst in flames along Bauchi Road Junction

    ”The Commissioner of Police in the state, Bartholomew Onyeka, directed the Angwan Rogo Divisional Police Officer and his team of detectives to immediately move to the scene of the accident.

    ”Upon arrival, it was discovered that 10 yet to be identified persons were burnt beyond recognition. Their lifeless bodies were later deposited at Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos.

    ”Three other vehicles and two tricycles were also affected by the fire,” he said.

    The PPRO said that efforts were ongoing to remove obstacles placed on the road to enable free flow of traffic and to identify the true identity of the burnt bodies.

  • Tanker crushes 4 to death in Abeokuta

    Tanker crushes 4 to death in Abeokuta

    Four people were confirmed dead in a multiple accident involving a tanker and two cars at Lafenwa area of Abeokuta in Ogun on Friday night.

    Mrs. Florence Okpe, the Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Saturday.

    Okpe said that the accident was caused by speeding on the part of the tanker driver.

    She added that the accident involved a tanker marked T-15321LA, a BMW car with registration number TTD 421 CX and an unregistered Nissan jeep.

    “The tanker driver was trying to make a turning at the Lafenwa Roundabout, lost control, and rammed into two vehicles and fence of a building.

    “The deceased were standing by the fence before they were trapped.

    “The content spilled but was quickly transloaded into another truck with the help of fire service and other traffic managers,” Okpe said.

    She said that the FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Ahmed Umar, expressed sadness over the incident.

    “The sector commander is pained over the carelessness of some truck drivers, who refused to consider other road users,” the corps Public Education Officer said.

    Okpe explained that the deceased have been taken away by their families, possibly for burial.

    Okpe, however, sympathised with family of the victims, advised them to contact FRSC for more information about the crash.

  • One dead, another rescued in Lagos tanker accident

    One dead, another rescued in Lagos tanker accident

    The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service says one person died and another rescued with injury from a fallen tanker at Otto Wharf Bus Stop, Apapa – Oshodi Expressway, Mile 2, Lagos.

    The Director of the service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, confirmed the incident on Sunday.

    Adeseye said that the incident happened at about 4:02 a.m. on Sunday involving a 45,000 litres tanker loaded with diesel, heading towards Oshodi from Apapa area.

    She said that the tanker on motion reportedly fell on a stationed towing van, while negotiating its way out of barriers introduced by unidentified tolls collectors on Apapa road.

    “The resultant accident was mitigated by the Sari-Iganmu fire crew of the service. However, two male adults were involved. One was rescued alive with varying degrees of injury to the nearest hospital and the other recovered dead,” she said.

    The Director said the tanker and towing van have been evacuated from the road.

  • Tanker explosion claims 10 lives on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

    Tanker explosion claims 10 lives on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

    No fewer than 10 people were burnt to death in a tanker explosion at Araromi on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Thursday morning.

    Mr Ahmed Umar, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abeokuta.

    Umar said that the accident occurred around Conoil in Araromi before Sagamu Interchange on the expressway.

    According to him, five vehicles were burnt in the raging inferno.

    He said that victims of the accidents were burnt beyond recognition.

    According to him, the vehicles involved in the accident are: a Mack truck marked AKL 198 ZT; an Iveco truck with no registration number; a Mazda bus marked FFE 361 XB, an unmarked Howo truck and the Mack tanker.

    He attributed the cause of the accident to speeding by driver of the Iveco truck.

    “Driver of the Iveco truck, who was travelling on top speed lost control and rammed into the tanker, which resulted to fire outbreak due to leakage,”

    He added that the Mazda bus was engulfed by the fire, saying that all those that died were in the bus.

    “The suspected cause of the multiple crash was excessive speed which led to loss of control on the part of the Iveco truck and smashed the tanker body which resulted to fire outbreak due to leakage.

    “The Mazda bus got engulfed in the spark of the fire,” Umar said.

    He added that the deceased were taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.

    Umar, after visiting scene of the accident, commiserated with families of the victims.

    He advised motorists to drive cautiously, obey traffic rules and regulations, and as well consider other road users while driving.

    Earlier, FRSC had advised motorists and public to use alternative routes on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway due to a tanker explosion at Araromi Town before the Interchange.

    Umar said: “The rescue operation is still on and people involved were yet to be confirmed because a bus is also involved.

    “The crash scene was cordoned off to avoid secondary crash as traffic has been diverted.

    “Men of Fire Service have arrived at the scene and effort is being made to put out the fire. Traffic has been temporarily diverted at Lufuwape U-turn to ease the traffic situation,” he said.

    The sector commander advised motorists to remain calm and cooperate with traffic managers controlling the situation,” he said.

  • BREAKING: Tension as diesel tanker bursts into flames in Lagos

    BREAKING: Tension as diesel tanker bursts into flames in Lagos

    There was palpable tension on Wednesday along the ever-busy Lekki-Epe expressway, at Jakande inward Chisco, in Lagos State after a diesel tanker burst into flames.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the incident occurred at about 0900hrs as motorists were advised to approach the area with caution and maintain situational awareness.

    It was gathered that the backlog of traffic, resulting in gridlock, has gone beyond Tipper Garage at the time of filing this report.

    Meanwhile, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), giving an update on the incident, confirmed that the fire has been put off.

    “The fire has been put off but they are presently waiting for a towing vehicle to get the tanker off the road. We implore you to drive cautiously on this route,” LASTMA stated.

  • OGUN: 10 houses, two churches and eight shops razed as fuel tanker explodes

    OGUN: 10 houses, two churches and eight shops razed as fuel tanker explodes

    A fire incident has razed at least 10 residential houses, two churches and eight shops after a fuel tanker loaded with 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol on Saturday fell and exploded at Olambe along Matogun road in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

     

    It was gathered that the tanker content spilled leading to an inferno that engulfed the area.

     

    According to eyewitnesses, before the unmarked tanker fell, some of its content had spilled on the road.

     

    They added that the driver, who is now at large, could not control the vehicle before it later fell on the road.

     

    Some youths assisted in putting out the fire upon the arrival of fire-fighters from the state Fire Service. The explosion destroyed 10 residential houses, two churches and eight shops.

     

    Residents and business owners in the area were seen in tears as their belongings went up in flames.

    OGUN: 10 houses, two churches and eight shops razed as fuel tanker explodes

     

    The Lagos Territorial Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Farinloye, in a statement earlier on the incident, said that the tanker fell and spilled its contents and exploded around 7am in the area. He added that no life was lost and no one sustained an injury, noting that about 10 buildings were destroyed in the incident.

     

    Farinloye said, “The situation was mitigated with most of the content spilling into the canal close to the scene, thereby saving the community from serious incidents that could have affected people. The fire has been put out.”

     

    It was gathered that items such as phones, documents, freezers, a generator, tyres, and food items among others were lost in the incident.

     

    Some of the affected victims spoke to TheNewsGuru.com in tears.

     

    The manager of a hotel affected in the area, Peter Friday, said that the incident came as a shock to the entire community, adding that he was busy with sales when the incident occurred and he quickly moved their guests to a safer place outside the hotel.

     

    He stated, “I sat inside the bar when the incident happened. I saw flames of fire from where I was and I quickly rushed out to call our guests inside the room for them to move out before the fire could penetrate. Four rooms, the main bar, and many things as you can see were affected. We have broken ceilings, mattresses, 50 pieces of burnt chairs, a generator, one reservoir and many other things that got destroyed.

     

    “I want the government to look into this and help us with the structures and losses. I think the incident was caused by the bad road. I feel bad because if the road had been fixed, this incident would have been averted. But we thank God that our guests are in a safe place now.’’

     

    A trader, Dupe Afeni, who was distraught, said she just stocked her shop two days before the incident.

     

    “I don’t know where to start from exactly. I went to the market and stocked my shop two days ago but everything has burnt down. I borrowed money to do business but see the outcome. I don’t know what to do anymore, “she lamented.

     

    Another victim, Sodiq Akeem who is a tyre repairer, lamented that his tools were burnt, adding that he was still bothered about the situation.

     

    “I received a call from my apprentice that a tanker was burning. I didn’t know it affected my shop until I came back there. The fire burnt down my engine, 10 yres, money contributed by association and other things. I tried to call a woman who sold food items beside my shop because I kept some of my tools and clothes there. I noticed that everything inside the shop has been gutted by fire.’’

     

    A landlord in the area, Gbenga Olawumi, stated that his four shops, a reservoir and a church were burnt to ashes.

     

    Olawumi added, “The tanker lost balance while moving on the bad road. The driver was about to turn it when it suddenly fell. All the tools in the shops have been destroyed. You can see my church too. Sewing machines, fridges, freezers and many food items were burnt beyond recognition. Government should just help us out because I don’t know what else to say.’’

     

    Police were seen preventing passers-by from accessing the scene of the incident at 4 pm.

     

    Reacting to the incident, the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, expressed sympathy to the victims of the explosion.

     

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, on Saturday, the governor was quoted as describing the incident as unfortunate.

     

    The governor who thanked God that no life was lost to the explosion, however, expressed grief at the level of destruction of people’s property.

     

    Abiodun explained that such an unforeseen incident was one of the reasons his administration decided to embark on the reconstruction of the Ijoko-Alagbole-Lambe-Akute Road, despite the huge amount of public funds sunk into the road without completion by the immediate past administration.

     

    Calling for calm among the residents of the Matogun and its environs, the governor assured that work would be expedited on the road to forestall such an incident and to make life of the people in the axis comfortable.

     

    Abiodun, who reiterated his administration’s commitment to making the people of Ogun State enjoy the dividends of democracy, stated that palliative assistance would be rendered to those who lost their property to the inferno to mitigate their losses.

  • 3 die, 2 injured as diesel tanker explodes in Kogi

    3 die, 2 injured as diesel tanker explodes in Kogi

    No fewer than 3 persons were burnt to death while 2 others were rescued with burns on Monday evening when a Diesel Tanker exploded in Kogi.

    Corps Commander Stephen Dawulung, Kogi Sector of the Federal Road Safely Corps (FRSC), who confirmed the incident in Lokoja, said it occurred at Felele quarters on the Lokoja-Kabba road around 8.17 p.m. of Monday.

    Dawulung said the ill-fated tanker conveying flammable material (diesel) bursted into flames after a crash which resulted to the death of three persons.

    “The fire of the crashed tanker resulted to the burning of two other trailers (articulated vehicles) and a Dyna Pick-up van on the road.

    “Three persons were burnt to death while two other victims were rescued with burns and rushed to Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja for medical attention and the corpse deposited at the motuary, ” the sector commander said.

    The FRSC Officer explained that the crash resulted from dangerous driving by the driver, who suddenly lost control, crashed and was totally burnt.

    Unfortunately, the Dyna Pick-up van that was parked by the road side and the two other vehicles were affected by the fire.

    At that point, traffic became standstill due to the magnitude of the fire until it subsided, making operatives of FRSC to conduct traffic control and cleared the hold-up.

    Dawulung, who described the incident as very unfortunate and sad, advised drivers of articulated vehicles, especially those carrying flammable substances, to always be cautious and drive within the regulated speed limit.

    “They (drivers) must also maintain all vehicle safety protocols like the use of safety valves to prevent spillage of content in the event of crash.”

    The commander, however, directed full investigation on the crash and sympathised with families of those who lost their lives in the incident.