On December 6, 2011, the ever-busy Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, Lagos, was completely shut down for over four hours, following a clash between members of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) arm of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA).
On December 6, 2011, the ever-busy Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, Lagos, was completely shut down for over four hours, following a clash between members of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) arm of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA).
The story was that face-off ensued after LASTMA officials from its Mile 2 office allegedly impounded three tankers belonging to members of PTD, Capital Oil Branch, Amuwo -Odofin, area over alleged indiscriminate parking of trucks preventing free-flow of traffic.
But the drivers claimed they only parked along the service lane as agreed with LASTMA officials.
The incident sparked off protests from other tanker drivers heading to Capital Oil Tank Farm at Amuwo Odofin. A LASTMA towing van was also vandalized in the process, while innocent motorists were held in the traffic for hours.
Road users were held up for close to four hours and the truck drivers barricaded the ever- busy Expressway with their trucks thereby preventing motorists heading to Apapa and other areas from assessing the roads.
We also recall that in April, 2011, there was a clash between the tanker drivers and LASTMA officials which led to the seizure of scores of petroleum tankers; this action led to a retaliatory strike action by NUPENG which ordered its members to withdraw their tankers from the roads. The effect is fuel scarcity throughout the federation.
That face-off was on account of a step that was taken by one of the tank farms; MRS Oil and Gas to utilize a holding bay which it acquired on the Apapa/ Oshodi expressway. This drew many tankers to the large expanse of land. Many of the drivers who could not secure a space within the holding bay resorted to parking their trucks on the highway; a development which was resisted by officials of LASTMA.
The above has become common place between tanker drivers and government law enforcement and security agencies, especially those who have been drafted to ensure sanity on the now-notorious Oshodi/ Apapa expressway.
As recent as about three weeks ago, naval personnel at the Ibafon axis of the petroleum products loading facilities on the Apapa end of the expressway clashed with tanker drivers. In the process, three persons, including two tanker drivers were shot.
And on Saturday, February 18, a tanker overturned on the very busy Mile 2 Bridge, caught fire and fell-off the bridge. At least, 39 commercial and private vehicles were burnt in the ensuing inferno.
On account of the latest accident, the Lagos state government for the umpteenth time, ordered the recalcitrant tanker drivers to vacate the Apapa/Oshodi expressway.
In response to the order, NUPENG has denied knowledge of the government order; instead there are rumours of an impending strike by the PTD.
Since the petroleum tanker drivers under the umbrella of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Union (NUPENG) woke up in 1993 to realise that they could hold the nation to ransom by withdrawing their trucks, they have continued to use it has a weapon to negotiate and often have their way. Were it not for the political turmoil over the June 12, 1993 elections, tanker drivers may never have realised how ‘powerful’ they are. Buoyed by the fierceness of its then-national secretary, Mr Frank Kokori, NUPENG successfully paralyzed the nation’s socio-economy, and since then, any time NUPENG sneezes, the nation literally catches cold.
We totally agree with those who have called for a total review of petroleum products haulage system in Nigeria. The current distribution system is as faulty as the Nigerian transportation system which rather than being intermodal, has relied almost totally on the road system.
It is our opinion that government should explore the possibility of moving petroleum products by rail and by sea. It is not that these options have never been there, but the political will to explore them has been largely absent.
An efficient rail system will not only ease pressure on our roads, but it will also assist in the transportation of petroleum products. The same applies if we have a well developed inland waterways system.
The recent innovation by the Nigerian Railway Corporation which led it to import some units of pressurized tanks for use in the transportation of petroleum products by rail is commendable and should be given a broader attention.
Good enough, the nation’s rail system is already been reactivated, what is left is for the waterways to be made navigable such that barges can also be used to lift products. There lies the solution to the frequent recalcitrant and larger than life posture of tanker drivers when petroleum products distribution is concerned.
The tanker drivers and indeed, NUPENG and more specifically, its PTD branch has held the nation to ransom for too long and this is because the system has made their drivers indispensable.
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