LASG ban on Tankers: We are not affected by traffic law – NUPENG

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Workers (NUPENG) on Friday said that petroleum
tankers were not affected by the Lagos State Government
daytime operational restriction. Mr Tokunbo Korodo, the
Southwest Chairman of the union, told newsmen in Lagos
that “the ban had nothing to do with petroleum tankers.”

Korodo, who said that petroleum tankers were not captured
by the law, added that they could deliver products to any
destination any time. “We are aware of this directive by the
LASG but the law did not restrict our trucks.

“Tanker drivers can move at any time to deliver its
products; we are not affected by the traffic law. “You can
see that our tankers are working all round the clock to lift
petroleum products and deliver at designated filling stations
nationwide,” he said.

He, however, said that the ban was to reduce incessant
accident caused by articulated vehicles on Lagos
roads. Recall that the state government had on Sept. 6,
restricted the movement heavy duty vehicles within the
metropolis to between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The government action followed the recent Ojuelegba trailer
accident which claimed three lives on Sept. 3. The
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr
Oluseyi Whenu, said the movement of articulated vehicles
contravened Section 2 (i) and 2 (ii) of the Traffic Law.

Whenu said that the government would henceforth impound
vehicles and the owners fined whenever there was a breach
of the restriction order. NAN reports that truck drivers
under the aegis of the Association of Maritime Truck
Owners said that they would withdraw their trucks from the
road with immediate effect over the restriction directive.

The Chairman of AMATO, Mr Remi Ogungbemi, said
that it was difficult for members to comply with the state
directive on the restriction due to security
reasons. Ogungbemi said that the state’s policy restricting
trucks’ movement to the night would be hard to comply with
because the safety of trucks, drivers and the cargoes could
not be guaranteed.