Lazarus Ibeabuchi
25 July 2012, Sweetcrude, LAGOS – THE Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has threatened to down tools over the deplorable conditions of road networks across the country.
At a briefing in Lagos, President of NUPENG, Mr Achese Igwe, said the union would not give any more notice because members were disappointed that government had been paying deaf ears to the several notices on the issue.
He said, “If government fails to repair the nation’s roads, we might stop plying these roads. The roads to Kaduna and Warri refineries are deplorable and repair works have been abandoned. Port Harcourt and Warri refineries access roads are not motorable again.
“Contractors were mobilised and the next thing we saw was that they moved out of site. The Minister of Works had gone round the media, saying they are repairing federal roads. But I want Nigerians to go and check. Our roads are death traps.
“My sadness is that our leaders travel outside the country to see how roads are constructed. But it is unfortunate that these people in corridors of power return to pay deaf ears.
“We feel disappointed because we have had various meetings and signed Memoranda of Understanding with the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Works and other agencies involved. But till this moment, none of this MoU has been implemented”.
