02 June 2015, Abuja – Worried by incessant cases of road traffic accidents involving fuel tankers, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG has called on the security agencies to investigate the cause of the accidents, especially the Onitsha and Lagos incidents which claimed over 70 lives and properties worth several millions of Naira.
The Union in a statement by its National Chairman, Comrade Salimon Akanni Oladiti, expressed shock over the two incidents, while also insisting the Law Enforcement Agents must investigate the cause of the accidents and ascertain the products source.
Oladiti expressed the Union’s resolve to continue its fight on night and reckless driving and the need to ensure that tankers are usually fit and in proper conditions before plying the highways.
He said the Union cherished human life more than anything and as such cannot condone any act of negligence either on the part of the drivers or the truck owners, arguing that any truck or tanker that needed repairs must be certified fit before conveying highly inflammable products on the road.
The Union also expressed its readiness to take on any tanker owner that sacks their drivers for refusing to ply the highways with unsafe Tanker, whilst reiterating on the rule banning night driving, he said, the law though usually violated, is still in force.
The union however commiserates with the government and people of Anambra and Lagos States for the loss of lives and equally extend its condolence to the affected families with a prayer that God gives them the fortitude to bear the loss.
The National Chairman also used the opportunity to inform of the union’s effort on sensitization and awareness drive to its members nationwide periodically on the need for safety on the nation’s highways with a pledge to intensify the efforts.