IN ensuring smooth and efficient fuel distribution across the country, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has trained 2,500 tanker drivers across the country.
The training which was supervised by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Association, an arm of the NUPENG, was commended by the National Chairman, PTD, Comrade Salimon Oladiti, who stated that the training became necessary to reduce accidents associated with tankers on the roads.
Oladiti, who was represented by Comrade Olujide Kilanko, Training Committee Chairman, said the objective was to reduce road accidents involving tankers on Nigerian roads to the barest minimum.
Shell rejected me as fresh graduate, I rejected them years after —Awodeyi
Oladiti said the recurring cases of accidents caused by tanker drivers across the country had forced the union to embark on the raining in the last six years.
He lauded the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Marshal and other traffic agencies for their support and collaboration at all times during the training.
According to him, the training has reduced the number of accidents involving tankers on Nigerian roads, yet, more needs to be done hence the continuous training of drivers.
“I also use this medium to thank government for developing the infrastructure in Nigeria. I also appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to fix Nigeria’s roads. The roads are in deplorable condition and need urgent attention especially now that the raining season is gradually coming to an end,” he said.
Comrade Tayo Aboyeji, the chairman, Lagos Chapter of NUPENG, said the essence of the training was to reduce the rate of accidents on the roads and also educate the tanker drivers on safety tips.
Aboyeji said the training had contributed to the reduction of road accidents of tankers on the road, adding that, tanker accidents had reduced drastically.
He said bad roads also contributed to the accidents that occurred on the road, adding that a journey of two to three days to deliver products, usually takes five days due to the deplorable state of the roads.
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