The Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (PTD-NUPENG) has commended President Bola Tinubu’s government for prioritizing the repair of federal highways across the country.
In a statement signed by the union’s National Chairman, Augustine Egbon, and National Secretary, Oluchi Chinagorom, and made available to Investors King after the association’s quarterly National Executive Committee meeting in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Sunday, December 22, the petroleum tanker drivers urged the Federal Government to take advantage of the dry season to complete other road projects.
According to the union, further delays in these projects could have dire consequences, especially during the rainy season.
Stressing the urgency of these projects, the PTD-NUPENG communiqué stated: “We commend the Federal Government for prioritizing the repair of federal highways to make them safer and reduce the burden on transporters. However, we urge immediate action to ensure contractors are mobilized before the peak of the rainy season. Having shown a commitment to fixing roads, unlike its predecessor, we urge the Federal Government to walk its talk. Unnecessary delays could lead to complications during the rainy season. A stitch in time saves nine.”
The union highlighted several federal roads requiring critical and urgent attention, including the Shagamu-Benin road, Makurdi-Katsina-Ala road, Kachako-Dambazua road in Kano, Yola-Hong-Mubi road in Adamawa, Okene-Auchi-Benin road, Lanai-Agai-Bida road, and the East-West road spanning Benin-Warri to Port Harcourt.
Egbon, however, criticized the Federal Government for excluding tanker drivers, who he described as key players in the country’s oil and gas sector, from the ongoing CNG scheme.
Highlighting the importance of the scheme to the union and the potential benefits of its inclusion, the statement emphasized: “Tanker drivers, as key players in the downstream oil and gas sector, have been excluded from the CNG scheme. CNG kits are not just for smaller vehicles; tankers also require cheaper fuel alternatives to operate efficiently.”