Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) on Wednesday ordered the immediate stoppage of distribution of petroleum products from Lagos to the northern part of the country till further notice.
A statement signed by the PTD National Chairman, Salimon Oladiti, stated that the action was a fallout of the Niger government’s decision to stop heavy trucks, including tankers from using any of the link roads in Minna effective midnight of September 15, 2020.
Governor Sani Bello who personally supervised the closure of the road at Bida end in a brief ceremony on Tuesday, said the closure was to allow the construction company handling the rehabilitation work speed up the job.
Oladiti, lamented that the alternative road available to tanker drivers was in a very deplorable state.
Further describing the road as a death trap, the PTD leader said the union will not deliberately endanger the lives of members by asking them to use the road in its present state.
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The statement read in part: “The only alternative road is not motorable. This is Bida- Agai- Lapai- Lambata road. This road is a death trap. When we got wind of the plan of the Niger State Government to shut the roads some weeks back, I spoke to the Minister of Works through one of his aides and he assured that the ministry would do palliative and remedial works on the road. Unfortunately, over two weeks after our discussion, nothing has been down on the roads.
“As leaders, we have to do the needful and protect the lives of our members from avoidable accident and attacks from hoodlums. So, starting from tomorrow September 17, 2020, our members will not be lifting products from Lagos to the Northern part of the country.
“Until the federal government makes the alternative road motorable, our members will not resume lifting of products to the northern part of the country,” Oladiti said.
