The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Tanker

  • ‘Tanker drivers protest ex-chair’s ‘influence’

    •‘Protesters are bad losers

    Business activities at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, were grounded yesterday, following a protest by members of the Petrol Tanker Drivers (PTD).

    They were protesting what they called the overbearing influence of their former Chairman Musa Plato.

    The protesters alleged that Plato could not account for the N18 million generated during his eight-year tenure, adding that he allegedly sold the only tanker the union was using to convey fuel from depots.

    But in a telephone chat with our reporter, Plato denied the allegations.

    He said the protesters were bad losers.

    The former union leader said there was an election in May in which his opponents lost. He alleged that this was the basis of their protest

    According to him, the allegation of selling the fuel tanker for N18 million is false.

    As earlier as 7am, the protesters took over the PTD office, opposite the NNPC Makurdi depot on the Makurdi-Enugu Road.

    They barricaded the road, making it impossible for motorists to pass through for some time.

    The protesters also prevented officials of the union from going into their offices.

    They sang solidarity songs and carried placards, some of which reads: “PTD is not a one-man show”; “we need quarterly report” and “Musa Plato, leave PTD alone”.

    The protester vowed to disallow the union officials from getting to their offices until the national secretariat of the PTD intervened.

    At press time, the protesters were still at the main entrance to PTD office. This forced those who wanted to transact businesses at the depot to retreat.

     

  • Tankers relocate from airport access road

    Tankers relocate from airport access road

    Petroleum tanker drivers operating at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport have started relocating to the site allocated to them by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

    Their relocation followed the expiration of the deadline issued to them by the Federal Government, as part of efforts to clear the access road leading to the international wing of the Murtala Mohammed.

    According to the General Manager, Corporate Communication, FAAN, Mr Yakubu Dati, over two-thirds of the tankers has relocated.

    He said the over 200 tankers parked at the airport access road had shrunk to about 50.

    The need for the fuel tankers to relocate out of the access road was part of efforts by the government to enhance safety and security at the airport.

    He said: ”The relocation exercise is going on successfully as the exercise is being supervised by the Lagos zonal council of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, a branch of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers(NUPENG).”

     

  • Seven die as tanker somersaults

    Seven persons were killed yesterday while a diesel-laden tanker lost control at Ogolonto bus stop near Ikorodu, on the outskirts of Lagos, and ran unto a container shop.

    The Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr Rasak Fadipe told The Nation that the bodies removed from the scene at 7.10 pm yesterday.

    Fadipe said the truck, which belongs to Stallionaire Nigeria Limited, was marked KTU 568 XD.

    Fadipe said: “We got a crane to lift the diesel-laden truck to ensure it does not result in fire that could precipitate more disaster. We have gone round to advise residents around the area to stop cooking because the result will be disastrous”.

  • Ore tanker fire survivor seeks help

    One of the survivors of the Benin-Ore Expressway tanker fire accident , Chinenye Ozoekwe, from Amudo Awka, Anambra State, yesterday appealed to Governors Peter Obi (Anambra), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Babatunde Fashola (Lagos) to come to his aid.

    On his bed at the Anambra State University Teaching Hospital, Awka, also known as Amaku General Hospital, Ozoekwe appealed to the management of the luxury bus, Young Shall Grow, to assist him.

    He said: “I request assistance fromNigerians. I am in great pains and need to be properly treated.

    “Kindly let these three governors assist me. The trio are strategic to my accident.

    “I left Lagos and the accident happened in Edo State and I am from Anambra State.

    “There are companies and private individuals that can assist me but I just singled these people out specifically.”

    A luxury bus on April 5 collided with a petrol tanker on the Benin-Ore Expressway, leaving over 100 people burnt to death.

    Ozoekwe smashed the window of the bus and jumped out followed by a second survivor.

    He was admitted at the Divine Grace Hospital, Benin, before he was transferred to the General Hospital, Awka.

     

  • Tanker drivers block Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for 13 hours

    Tanker drivers block Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for 13 hours

    Tanker drivers blocked the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at Ogere-Remo at 11pm on Wednesday, leaving commuters stranded for about 13 hours.

    They were protesting the alleged unprovoked attack on a tanker by a policeman.

    It was gathered that some policemen shot the three tyres of a tanker, marked JIGAWA XC 405 DUT, which was loaded with fuel.

    Ogun police spokesman Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi said: “We understand that a policeman attached to a VIP shot at the tyres of a fuel tanker. I am telling you authoritatively that the policeman is not from the Ogun Command.

    “In their usual manner, other drivers blocked the road to show solidarity. The police, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abdulkadir, swung into action immediately.

    “We engaged them in negotiations and they have agreed to take their tankers off the road as you can observe now.”

    Adejobi said the command gathered that the policeman and the person he was escorting were coming from Lagos when the incident occurred.

    As at the time of filing this report, the tanker, whose tyres were deflated, was still blocking Lagos-Ibadan lane.

    Other tankers drivers were already removing their trucks from the Ibadan-Lagos lane.

    One of the tanker drivers, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “It will take a lot of time to fix even one tyre, because of the fuel in the tanker.”

    Ogun Sector Commander of the Federal road Safety Corps (FRSC) Mr. Ayobami Omiyale said he had instructed motorists on both axis to make use of alternative routes.

    Ayobami led FRSC officers in controlling traffic when the Ibadan-Lagos lane was opened at about 11:20am.