Oyo Transporter Frowns At PTD Strike, Says Union Will Power Govt To Use NRC As Mobility Various In Lifting Petroleum Merchandise

A outstanding transporter in Oyo State and convener of a stress group, “Know Your Proper”, Kehinde Adebeshin a.ok.a “Baba Ibeji” has cautioned the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Pure Fuel Staff (NUPENG) and its Department, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) to not pressure the federal government of Nigeria to see the Nigerian Railway Company (NRC) as a most popular mobility various throughout the nation for lifting Petroleum merchandise.

This shock name got here within the wake of business motion by the PTD in Lagos State to protest the “persistent harassment” of tanker and petroleum product drivers by cops hooked up to the Activity Power and LASTMA officers in Lagos State.

Though the strike has been referred to as off by the Union’s management on Wednesday, February 25, 2025; nevertheless Adebeshin decried the ripple results of the hardship the motion of PTD had precipitated Nigerians since Saturday, February 22, 2024, he described the Union’s choice as an act of financial sabotage. He maintained that it was unlucky and regrettable that the union flagrantly did not adjust to the present Lagos e-call-up enforcement which was geared toward regulating truck actions and for sustaining orderliness within the already congested metropolis.

Adebeshin blamed PTD and its guardian physique, NUPENG’s overzealousness and highhandedness on management hole, incompetence, lack of tact and administrative indiscretion. He additionally expressed disappointment on the implications of the strike on Telecom operators who additionally raised an alarm over an impending service disruption inside Lagos and Ogun states, as diesel provide to their service areas have been blocked for 3 consecutive days when the strike was on.

Adebeshin’s assertion on Tuesday reads in components:

“For lack of tact, competence, administrative discretion, and management gaps in operations, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Pure Fuel Staff (NUPENG) and its Department, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) have brazenly given alternative for the federal government of Nigeria to see the Nigerian Railway Company (NRC) as a most popular mobility various throughout the nation for lifting Petroleum merchandise and put a complete cease to transportation of merchandise by means of the highway.

“The Union should have the ability to correctly measure conditions critically earlier than down tooling, sadly, NUPENG and PTD have created room for enterprise homeowners and Nigerians as an entire to label them financial saboteurs who stand the danger of being invited by the DSS. The Union overtly did not do its background verify whether or not vehicles arrested by Lagos State Activity Power and LASTMA officers haven’t flaunted the present Lagos e-call-up rules which was designed to control truck actions and for sustaining orderliness within the already congested metropolis. Standing as an encumbrance to the federal government’s properly intentioned program and coverage is an affront which ought to by no means be tolerated.

“The round by the Lagos State authorities to all stakeholders to streamline and regulate truck actions alongside Lekki-Epe axis of the state, efficient March 1, 2025 didn’t exempt NUPENG or PTD, subsequently all violators can be apprehended and made to face the total wrath of the regulation.

“NUPENG ought to word that the Nigerian Railway Company (NRC), has already collaborated with APM Terminals (APMT) to kick begin container site visitors service on the usual gauge railway, connecting Lagos to the Moniya Freight Yard in Ibadan. This milestone will be replicated within the downstream sector of the Petroleum trade to boost Petroleum merchandise lifting and distribution actions, and offering a extra environment friendly and handy mode of transportation and finally assist to scale back or put into a complete halt, petrol tanker accidents which have claimed many lives and destroyed properties.

“It’s excellent news to listen to that NUPENG had finally swallowed its satisfaction by calling off the 3-day strike, they need to have interaction extra in peaceable dialogue with the federal government of Lagos State within the bigger curiosity of Nigeria in order to foster symbiotic industrial concord and prosperity. The Union must also attempt to repair the PTD management disaster within the nick of time and provides room for individuals with imaginative and prescient, expertise and constructive path to take cost of the PTD Department and restore its previous glory and dignity,” he mentioned.