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Tanker drivers decry bad roads, exclusion from CNG scheme
The Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has called on the Federal Government to ensure urgent commencement of repairs on federal highways and address their exclusion from the ongoing Compressed Natural Gas scheme.
In a communiqué issued at the conclusion of their quarterly National Executive Committee meeting in Benin City, Edo State, the union expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in road projects despite substantial budgetary allocations and criticised the lack of inclusion in the CNG initiative.
Signed by the National Chairman, Augustine Egbon, and National Secretary, Oluchi Chinagorom, the communiqué stated: “We commend the Federal Government for prioritizing the repair of federal highways to make them safer and reduce the burden on transporters. However, we urge immediate action to ensure contractors are mobilised before the peak of the rainy season.”
The union highlighted significant allocations made under the current administration, including N42.4bn approved in June for road variations and N740bn approved in October for the Berger stretch of the Abuja-Kano route.
Additionally, they referenced N621.2bn approved in 2021 under the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme.
“Having shown a commitment to fixing roads, unlike its predecessor, we urge the Federal Government to walk its talk. Unnecessary delays could lead to complications during the rainy season. A stitch in time saves nine,” the communiqué emphasised.
The PTD-NUPENG listed critical federal roads needing immediate attention, such as the Shagamu-Benin road, Makurdi-Katsina-Ala road, Kachako-Dambazua road in Kano, Yola-Hong-Mubi road in Adamawa, Okene-Auchi-Benin road, Lanai-Agai-Bida road, and the East-West road spanning Benin-Warri to Port Harcourt.
The union also decried its exclusion from the CNG initiative aimed at providing affordable fuel options.
“Tanker drivers, as key players in the downstream oil and gas sector, have been excluded from the CNG scheme. CNG kits are not just for smaller vehicles; tankers also require cheaper fuel alternatives to operate efficiently,” they argued.
The communiqué concluded with a plea to the Federal Government to fulfill its commitments to road rehabilitation and integrate tanker drivers into the CNG disbursement scheme, emphasizing the sector’s critical role in the nation’s petroleum product distribution chain.
According to him, such financial mishandling not only disrupts critical public services and projects but also results in major losses to the nation’s purse—resources that could have been channelled into crucial services and developmental efforts, as laid out in Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution.
Speaker Abbas, thereafter setup a Special Committee to be chaired by Rep. Chinedu Martins to immediately launch a probe into the “Utilisation of take-off grants, bailout funds, and interventions allocated to MDAs, government institutions, and GOEs from 2015 to present.”
The FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, expressed satisfaction with the progress on the Abuja light rail project, reaffirming its May 29 delivery as sacrosanct.
He made these assurances after inspecting the ongoing construction of access roads to the train stations on Wednesday, from Metro Train Station in the Central Area to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Reassuring journalists accompanying him, the minister reiterated that President Bola Tinubu would commission the rail project on May 29 to mark his second year in office.
The visited stations were Wupa station near Idu and Bassanjiwa station near the airport.
“This is part of our routine inspection of ongoing projects to see the contractors’ progress,” Wike explained.
“We are working day and night to fulfill our promise to President Tinubu and FCT residents. By May, Mr. President will ride on the Metro line.”
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen are currently invading some communities in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to sources, the herdsmen armed with AK-47 rifles stormed the community around 04:15pm on Thursday.
“Our lives are in danger this evening, armed Fulani herdsmen, about 600 in numbers have taken over our communities this evening,” a resident told SaharaReporters.
“They’re currently moving around towns in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state. No security personnel at all, Governor Alia didn’t send security, they said operation will start soon once they (herders) have observed the place.”
The insecurity situation in Benue has been alarming in recent weeks with attacks from gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
The media had reported that suspected herdsmen again unleashed terror in Benue State, attacking three communities in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) on Wednesday, just a day after 11 people were killed in a deadly raid on Otobi community.
The latest victims of the escalating violence were Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju, communities that had previously suffered an attack in February, which left five people dead.
However, the renewed attack has created fear and mass displacement among residents, with women and children fleeing to safety.
Local sources say the death toll from the fresh attack remains unclear, but several casualties are feared.
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