PTD BRANCH OF NUPENG BLAMES INCESSANT FALLING, EXPLOSION OF PETROLEUM TANKER VEHICLES ON HUMAN NATURE, POOR MAINTENANCE OF TRUCKS.
By Constance Nonye Muo/ Nwanneka Okechukwu :
Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTDs), branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has blamed the incessant falling and explosion of Petroleum Tanker Vehicles across the country on human nature and poor maintenance of trucks by employers.
This came to the fore, when Anambra State Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Barr. Anthony Ifeanya, convened a meeting with PTDs of NUPENG in his office at the Jerome Udoji state secretariat, Awka to brainstorm on ways to prevent future occurances.
Committed to the safety of lives and property of Ndi Anambra, Barr. Ifeanya, requested for the data of Tanker drivers in the state, those crossing the state and their respective major distributor companies.
Commissioner Ifeanya, who stressed need for the establishment of Tanker Vehicle Parks on Public Private Partnership (PPP), to meet safety, regulatory standards and reduce heavy vehicle congestion on roads, adviced tanker drivers to be careful on wheels and desist from taking hard drugs to surpress fatigue.
In his submission, the state Chairman, PTD branch of NUPENG, Comrade Izuchukwu Onwuka, while unveiling an existing law from their national secretariat that every tanker driver should park for the day once it is six o’clock in the evening, passionately appealed for urgent establishment of Tanker Vehicle Parks, where their members can park, refresh and continue their journey on day brake, hence yielding revenue for the state.
Comrade Onwuka, who is also the state chairman, NUPENG Coordinating Council, councelled their members to desist from managing any poorly maintained vehicle to be alive to drive for tomorrow.
Present during the assembly include the Special Assistant to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Engr Ikechukwu Okafor and the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Nkiru Nwankwor.
*Constance and Nwanneka are of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State*