The organised unions of tanker drivers across the state, under the auspices of Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), and Independent Marketers Branch of NUPENG (IMB), on Monday paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA), Dr Akin Fagbemi.
This is coming sequel to the total evacuation of dangerously parked articulated trucks and tankers at the Toll-Gate axis of the Lagos–Ibadan expressway last week.
The delegation, led by the PTD Chairman, Alhaji Hammed Hamzat, Vice Chairman IPMAN Oyo State Branch, Comr. Lekan Lawal and Chairman IMB Oyo State, Comr. Tijani Suraj expressed the readiness of the organised union to strictly monitor their members across the state towards ensuring compliance to road safety rules and regulations to protect the lives and properties of the people of Oyo State.
According to them, “We are aware of the challenges the government is presently facing with providing adequate security and safety for the citizens. While we commend the present administration of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde for his giant strides in safeguarding the lives of the citizens, as responsible bodies, we are ready to enhance our partnership with the government towards achieving their goal. We have sent notes of warning to all our members across the state and we are confident that they will comply with the directive of the state government to steer clear of undesignated parks and roadsides. We are here to reassure you of our commitment and seek your understanding in this regard”, the leaders posited.
In his reaction, the OYRTMA Boss, Mogaji Akin Fagbemi said: “I must commend your leadership for extending a hand of fellowship towards ensuring sanity on our roads. The government of Oyo State under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor ‘Seyi Makinde lays an immense premium on the sanctity of human life and the protection of the hard-earned properties of the good people of the state. Thus, he directed that we clear all encumbrances obstructing the free flow of vehicular traffic across the state or those haphazardly parked in ways and places that constitute a significant threat to state security and road safety. This we have initiated by reaching out to your members across the board for some months but we discovered some of them remained adamant after multiple warnings. This made our physical operations inevitable and the process shall continue until the right thing is done”, Fagbemi said.
Speaking further, Dr Akin Fagbemi said, “Whilst we are ready to further enhance our existing relationship with your organisations, we appreciate you and your team and we say vigilance of everyone means safety for all while negligence of anyone portends danger to all.”