NARTO Tells Fuel Tanker Drivers to Ground Operations

The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has directed all tanker drivers under the association to halt operations following the government’s directive banning operations of petroleum trucks more than 45,000 litres on Nigerian roads.

NARTO, the umbrella association of all commercial vehicles owners in Nigeria engaged in the haulage of petroleum products, general cargoes, and movement of goods and passengers within the country and the West-African sub-region, said members of the association will park their truck on Tuesday and Wednesday as warning against the ban.

Speaking on the situation in Abuja, NARTO’s National President, Yusuf Othman, said: “NARTO received with grave shock the recent government decision to place immediate ban on all petroleum trucks above 45,000 litres capacity from plying Nigeria roads.”

Othman explained that government’s sudden ban was insensitive and unappreciative of tankers efforts at strengthening the supply chain of petroleum products across the nation.

He said, “In view of the above, we are therefore constrained to allow the decision of all our members to park their trucks as from tomorrow, 22nd to 23rd September, 2020, to prevail as warning.

“And furthermore, issue 10-day ultimatum with effect from 24th September, 2020, for a full blown withdrawal of service.”

He added, “If such scenarios occur, we earnestly plead with those who will lose employment, income and the general public that will be negatively affected by this avoidable situation.”

NARTO argued that it was discouraging and distressing to abruptly enforced new policy without giving tanker drivers time to phase out affected trucks.

Othman said, “The leadership of NARTO is not in any way against the decision of the Federal Government to ban the use of trucks with more than 45,000 litres capacity in the conveyance of petroleum products considering the dilapidated state of Nigerian roads.

“But NARTO is particularly concerned about the sudden and prompt nature of the ban. We consider the approach to be highly insensitive to the huge investments the owners of these trucks have made and debts they incurred in executing the mandate given by previous administration.”