Coming on the heels of last week’s announcement by the Nigerian Navy that it has introduced a “Call up Card System’’ for trucks that have business to do at the ports, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has raised an alarm that the Task Force/ Traffic management team which was recently constituted by the Federal Government to ease traffic, was extorting tanker drivers.
South West Chairman of NUPENG, Comrade Tayo Boyeji who spoke with Shipping Position Daily last week also said that the union is supporting the Call-up-card introduced last week by the Nigerian Navy on condition that tanker drivers would not be extorted or asked to pay any fee in connection with the newly-introduced process.
Recall that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had in January announced the birth of a Traffic Management/Enforcement Team, comprising the Nigeria Police, Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Transport Management Authority, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and NPA security team to control incoming and outgoing traffic from Apapa.
But, Comrade Boyeji alleged that tanker drivers are forced to part with between N500 and N1,000 as settlement for the task force.
He assured the union’s support for the call-up-card introduced by the Navy; he however said that the best solution to the traffic chaos in Apapa remains the provision of a central parking space for articulated vehicles.
“Anything that would make Apapa free and will not inconvenience our members, we would abide by it, for now, we have been told that they are not paying for the call-up card, but those officers and task force on the road are still collecting money from our members and from container trucks too”
“Some of them collect N500 while some take N1, 000. The task force is made up of Navy and all other agencies”
“We had a meeting last week where we raised the alarm but nothing has been done about it”
Comrade Boyeji said that the union was carried along by the Navy and that they are aware of the call-up-card system.
“We had a meeting with them before the call-up system was introduced and it is okay, but if there could be a truck park where tankers would be parking, it would have been better than collecting cards from the navy, but because there is no central park anywhere. However, whatever that will make Apapa traffic better, we would support it, provided our members are not affected or placed under extortion”
Meanwhile, Mr Kehinde Ishola, Secretary, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Orile PTD Branch, said most tanker drivers were fond of parking recklessly on the road.
Ishola said that most truck owners were unconcerned about where their trucks would be parked before loading at the depot.
“Some of the owners refuse to give their drivers money for parking at the terminal; they are not concerned about where the truck will be parked before loading.
“I think government should take the enforcement with iron hand to eradicate the indiscriminate parking of trucks and tankers on the road.
“It is very dangerous and at the same time not proper as a city or country where its highways are filled with trucks and tankers is not ideal,’’ he added.
Mr. Noah Adeniran, NUPENG’s Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO), also called for adequate enforcement to prohibit indiscriminate parking of trucks on the roads.
“Some of the tankers have no base, but instead of them paying for parking at the terminal for convenience and safety, they decide to hang around the expressway before loading at the depot.
“This parking terminal has been in existence since 2007, but some of the drivers refused to use it,’’ he said.
The Commanding Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, Commodore Okon Eyo, while introducing the Call-Up-Card to journalists in Lagos last week, said that the system only allowed trucks that had business inside the ports, while those without call up cards were turned back at the foot of the bridge.
“What we have done was to a design call up card. Every morning, we ask them to bring the particulars of the trucks and we endorse the cards and give it to them. This will distinguish them from those who are not supposed to move, who should wait for normal clearance to proceed.
“This card will be given back to them and this means that we have processed trucks to continue.This card has worked perfectly well with the tankers and with this, they have been able to conduct their businesses well,’’ he said.
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