Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association(PTD), a branch of the
Nigeria Union Petroleum…(NUPENG), Anambra State branch has lamented the effects
of bad road in their business, saying that between June and September, its
members have lost petroleum products and vehicles worth over N200million.
The Unit chairman of the association, Comrade Godwin
Ezebuilo Anyim speaking during a press briefing in the union’s office in
Onitsha on Tuesday said the state of roads in the South east has become a
problem to them and to the free distribution of petroleum products around the
zone.
Anyim said that as a result of the state of the roads,
members of the union have incurred tremendous lost, which also involves loss of
lives, and appealed to the state and federal government to look at roads in the
zone with a view to fixing them urgently.
“We have lost vehicles and in most cases human beings, just
as the products we convey are also wasted each time there is an accidents.
These accidents are caused as a result of bad roads, and we are calling on the
federal government to come to our aid and reconstruct these roads.
“The products we convey are very inflammable products, on
several occasions that our trucks are involved in accidents, we loss the truck
to fire and also the products. A truck costs nothing less than N9million and
depending on the products it is conveying, the loss rises to between N12million
to N15million.
“What we mostly drive here is 45,000litres tanker, and full
tanker load of AGO is N5.4million, while PMS is N3.5million and DPK is also
N3.5 million. That is what we loss in addition to the tanker anytime you see a
fallen tanker on the way. This is not inclusive of human lives that are
affected.” He said.
Anyim who was surrounded by his executives in the course of
the briefing called on the federal government to expedite action in the
reconstruction of the roads to save loss of properties, just as he noted that
reconstruction of the roads will boost the economic viability of the zone.
Also speaking, the vice chairman of the union, Comrade Pius
Ani noted while fielding a question that the recent order by the Anambra State
governor, Chief Willie Obiano for tankers to operate only at night will not be
feasible.
Ani said, “We cannot operate at night because of the same
reasons we have mentioned and insecurity. There have been cases of truck
snatching, product theft and diversion as well as head on collision with luxury
busses that ply the roads at night, all as a result of bad roads.”
The group however expressed appreciation to the state
governor over plans to build a truck terminal in the state saying that some of
their members drive for over 10 hours, and would need a place to rest in the
state as some cannot afford hotel bills while on transit.
Anambra governor had last two months announced that the
government would begin strict enforcement of the law banning tanker drivers
from plying the state at day after two incidences of fire outbreak as a result
of fallen petroleum tankers in Awka and Onitsha.
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