FG, FRSC Collaboration Has Helped Reduce Trailer Accidents, Says Kaduna PTD Chairman; Comrade Abdullahi 63
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| Comrade Abdullahi Haruna |
In this interview, Comrade Abdullahi Haruna, popularly called "Abdullahi 63", talks on the efforts at creating awareness among Tanker Drivers in the state and the nation at large while also, sensitizing their members on the importance of abiding with laws and regulations in Nigeria.
He spoke with, Emmanuel Onotevure, Publisher/Executive Editor, NAIJ NEWS ALERT in Kaduna.
Permit me to express the appreciation of many residents of Kaduna state for the seamless and coordinated way you have managed, through your association, the PTD, the supply and distribution of petroleum products.
However, there are reports of the delivery of adulterated petroleum products being circulated across the state and many have accused some tanker drivers of connivance.
How do you react to this please?
First of all, my name is Comrade Abdullahi Haruna 63, popularly known as Abdullahi 63’. I am the chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, Kaduna Unit. We are grateful to Almighty Allah for His mercies and guidance as we, as members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, Kaduna Unit, believe that we owe it as a duty to Nigerians to ensure that our job, as tanker drivers, is to deliver petroleum products to their destination without delay, but effectively, so that the issue of scarcity or, late arrival of these products, is avoided.
We are working very hard with good collaboration from the management of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC to see that there are no issues as it concerns supply and delivery of these petroleum products, especially by our members to their various locations in Kaduna and the nation in general.
That allegation is completely wrong and not true. It is unfair for anybody to accuse my members of conniving to adulterate products. This is not to say that there are no bad eggs amongst the drivers but I can guarantee you that my members are disciplined, God-fearing and well behaved. Each day begins with drivers getting their tickets and going to the loading bay to load the respective products booked for and after which, they pick their waybills and are dispatched without delays to their destinations. This has ensured effective delivery of petroleum products across the state and beyond.
Since you came into office, what has been your vision and challenges as chairman of PTD, Kaduna state chapter?.
Well, everybody has one challenge or the other in life. On assumption into office, we had encountered some challenges especially with the crisis in this office following opposition from certain quarters and also, issues such as dilapidated structures, transportation for officials but with the intervention of Almighty Allah, after eleven months in office, we were able to overcome transportation issues for the officials. We were also able to acquire a Toyota Hummer bus for the members and a Land Cruiser Jeep for the office of the Chairman. We also, were able to purchase a new engine, new set of tyres for the scrapped Peugeot car we inherited and rebranded it to be used as an ambulance for the welfare of our staff and members.
Definitely, we thank Almighty Allah for these little achievements we were able to record in these past eleven months while the Plant was working.
Before I came onboard, the leadership then had commenced a very commendable project of embarking on the construction of an office building for our union. I immediately started off from where my predecessor stopped and today, if you look at it, you will observe that it is close o completion.
But, due to the ongoing Turn Around Maintenance at the Refinery which has been on for the past 7-8months whereby we have not been working.
Insha Allah, with the good news that the Refinery will commence operation by the 5th of December and we hope to continue work so that we can quickly complete the office project and have it commissioned.
A lot of people are of the opinion that your association is somehow leaning towards politics and that your people are involved are involved in the political wrangling in the polity.
How true is this?
Our association cannot just go directly into the public politics because; we are supposed to support any government that comes into office. So, in our union, we are not directly, as a body, in support of any political party or group. It is based on, as individuals; one can go out to get involved in politics but certainly, not in the name of the association.
We are partners in progress with any government to ensure that it succeeds for the good of the people and country. I hope you understand this that we are together to serve the public.
Many say that tanker drivers are responsible for the diversion of petroleum products across the country.
What are you doing to forestall such?
Well, we all know that tanker drivers are responsible for the delivery of of petroleum products to the retail outlets or, their various destinations. But, we should all understand something here; the tanker driver is just like a messenger.
We don’t own the trucks and we also do not own the products. How can we divert products? As a driver, you are just a messenger; it is the owner of the truck or product that can divert his product as he is the one that will tell the driver where to pick up the product and where to deliver it; from Point A to Point B.
Sometimes, it is the same person that owns the truck and will instruct the driver to take the truck from Kaduna to Zaria and discharge the product. The driver cannot divert the product as he is only working as a messenger. He does not own the truck or the product; how can he divert it? That allegation is not true.
It is sad that people who are not in the system will begin to think like this. For emphasis, the driver cannot divert products as he works only based on instructions from his employer. If we have the opportunity to own trucks and get our own products, nobody will call us tanker drivers again. The trucks are owned by NARTO members while the products are owned by petroleum dealers. I believe you will now understand this.
There are different associations operating in the oil industry; Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO and the Major Oil Marketers and they all have different responsibilities as regards the products but, the backbone and pillar of the business, is the tanker driver and, that is why people will think that it is we (PTD) that are diverting the products.
On Monday, 04th December, I observed that there pockets of queues of at some fuel stations in the city metropolis. Funny enough, some people will immediately conclude that; “aaah!! Look at these tanker drivers. Dem don start again ooh!!!”.
We are not responsible for these things happening. Our people have been in Lagos for the past three weeks; no loading. Nobody gave us products to load. How can we drive without products down to the North? There is nothing we can do about it. Here in Kaduna, for the past 6-7months we have not been doing anything which means no work.
Again, the tankers drivers are just messengers doing the bidding of their employers.
Talking about the issue of “diversion”, let us also look at the issue of “wrong parking” on the highways by tanker drivers.
Some years ago, the Federal Government in conjunction with the governments of Kaduna and Niger states, commenced the construction of “trailer parks; one at Tafa, in Tafa Local Government in Niger state while the other is at Maraban Jos in Chikun Local government of Kaduna state to provide for suitable parking space for articulated vehicles and trucks.
What exactly are the plans by your association; PTD to ensure that these facilities are properly utilized by your members?
Let me make something very clear. We are law abiding and very peaceful citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and most especially, the rules and regulations of our Union.
Tanker drivers wherever you see them, they have so much respect for their leaders and constituted authority. If the Federal Government puts those “trailer parks” in order, you can be rest assured you will not see any trailer driver parking on the highway.
We thank Almighty Allah for the intervention of the Executive Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai. The governor is doing his best to see to the speedy completion of the “Trailer Park” as work is ongoing at the site in Maraban Jos. I visited the site at Tafa, last week while returning from Suleja the progress of work is appreciable.
If you recall, about two months ago, there was an incident that occurred around Tafa which resulted in a fire outbreak. Lives and properties were lost in that particular incident which is quite unfortunate and sad. That episode has however made government to put in more effort towards the quick completion of that garage so that everybody will move directly to the “trailer parks”.
You will realize that most of the trailers and trucks parked there are carrying products to Abuja because, Suleja Depot is very small which also means that the parking space there will also be inadequate considering the huge number of trucks lifting products from various parts of the country, to Abuja; the nation’s capital.
The congestion at Suleja forced drivers to move to Tafa for their security and safety and many other challenges. In Maraban Jos, I also assure you that very soon, it will be completed and all of us will move there.
There are reports and allegations of trailer drivers operating their vehicles under the influence of alcohol and other drugs and substances, leading to avoidable accidents on our roads.
What are you doing as, Chairman of Petroleum Tanker Drivers, Kaduna state unit to sensitize your members to make sure that they abide to safety rules and regulations?
To be sincere, I cannot say all, but, it is very hard for you to see any of our members driving under the influence of alcohol or, taking hard drugs because, in this association, we seriously advise all our members not to drink while driving. I hope you get me right.
If we see anyone flouting the law, we ensure that such a person is properly punished.
I also want you to understand that our members have been complying strictly with the rules and regulations and this you can attest to by the reduction of road accidents involving our members on our highways, these past years. The figures have dropped to less than 10%. This is as a result of the intervention of the federal government and also, the Federal Roads Safety Commission, FRSC who are collaborating with us in ensuring that road accidents are brought down to the barest minimum in order to save the lives of the people.
With the help of the FRSC, through the introduction of “Speed Limit Devices” was adopted by our Union and all drivers were instructed by the leadership not to drive any without the “Speed Limit Device” and also, any truck without the device is not allowed to load any product as we have come to realize that, most of the accidents happening, occur due to “over speed”. We also ensure that that the Speed Limit Device is working before any driver is allowed to load.
This has brought about an serious reduction in accident cases across the country and for this, we are thankful to Almighty Allah.
Look around you today and you will readily agree that accidents involving trailers has drastically reduced when compared to the past years.
The Petroleum Tanker Drivers association works hard to educate its members through seminars and workshops every 2-3 months across the whole zones; Port-Harcourt zone, Lagos zone, Warri zone and here in Kaduna zone where they are advised not to do things that are against their safety and well-being while driving.
We also caution them against driving long hours without proper rest. When they drive for five hours, we advise that they park for some time to enable them rest, for at least thirty minutes to one hour. This is our own rule and not that of the federal government; it is in our constitution and there is also a rule that members must avoid driving at nights, especially while loaded.
Again, our members become easy targets to criminal elements especially at nights. In some instances, lives of members are lost in such incidents while some trucks are stolen with their products. These cases occur at night which is why we have told our members not to drive at lights in order to remain safe.
In the transportation sector, accidents occur but I thank Almighty Allah that the rate of accidents has become minimal.
Do you have insurance for your members in the course of accidents leading to loss of lives and libs? Also, how do you protect your members from the challenges and encounters with security operatives in the different parts of the country?
Of course, we have insurance for our members. Our National Executive Council which comprises of the Petroleum Tankers Drivers and the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO have jointly set up an Insurance scheme whereby, whosoever loses his life or limb(s) while on duty, is compensated with a certain amount to enable him cater for himself, as relief for the pains. This will enable victims of accidents provide for themselves as upkeep.
And, concerning the issue of security challenges especially with law enforcement agents, we have established a strong cordial working relationship with all of the security agencies in the country as we see ourselves as partners in progress. In previous years, issues of misunderstanding were the cause of the problems then. We have told our members to always ensure that they obey and respect law enforcements officers at all times. Also, in cases where matters cannot be resolved easily, we advise them to immediately contact their leaders so that, together, peace is maintained at all times.
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