*’We see the failure of the govt in this regard as height of insensitivity to lives of innocent Nigerians and the union cannot continue to fold its hands while our members suffer everyday’
THE National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) will tomorrow begin a nationwide strike over the deplorable state of the nation’s highways and other issues.
The South-West Zonal Chairman of NUPENG, Tayo Aboyeji, who disclosed this to journalists yesterday in Lagos, said the union has lost many lives and properties due to bad roads.
Aboyeji said all tanker drivers from the union would withdraw their services nationwide.
He said: “This is not the first time that we will signify our intention to go on strike but we have to call it off because it will generally affect the majority of Nigerians but now our hands are tied.
“We are going on nationwide strike because of the deplorable and shameful state of our highways.
“When a truck loads petrol in Lagos, the drivers spend five to six days to get to Abuja because of the shameful state of the roads.
“All calls by the executive of petroleum unions have fallen on the deaf ears of the government as the highways continue to deteriorate nationwide.
“The list of the highways is endless and the tanker drivers have been going through the harrowing situations while rendering selfless national service.
“The increasing rate of fire incidents involving petroleum tankers with accompanying massive destruction of lives and properties of our members and the general public is enough.
“This is because of the government’s failure to enforce installation of safety gadgets on tankers.
“This will protect the contents on their trucks from spilling over during road accidents.
“We see the failure of the government in this regard as height of insensitivity to lives of innocent Nigerians and the union cannot continue to fold its hands while our members suffer everyday.”
The NUPENG chairman said the union was not happy with the unscrupulous abuse of tonnage.
Aboyeji added: “There are some trucks that carry 60,000 litres to 100,000 litres on the highway.
“This load has a negative effect and impact on the safety and control of drivers on the wheel as well as durability and sustainability of the highway.
“The unions do not want any truck to carry more than the approved capacity.”
