PTD to FG: Begin repair works on highways before peak of rainy season

The petroleum tanker drivers branch of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (PTD-NUPENG) says the federal government should ensure repair works on highways across the country commence before the peak of the rainy season.

In a communique issued at the end of its quarterly national executive committee (NEC) meeting held in Benin, Edo state, on Saturday, the union said the federal government should ensure that Nigerians receive value for public funds.

Augustine Egbon and Oluchi Chinagorom, the national chairman and secretary of the PTD-NUPENG, signed the communique.

“We commend the federal government for giving favourable consideration to the repair of federal highways towards making the roads safer, passable, and lessening the burden of transporters whose source of living depends on a quality road network,” the communique reads.

“We recall that the present administration had in the last one year earmarked huge public funds to put the federal highways in good shape.

“In June this year, a total sum of N42.4 billion was approved by the federal executive council as the cost of variation for three federal roads in the country.

“Again, last October, FEC approved N740 billion for the Berger stretch of the Abuja-Kano route.

“We want to also nudge the memory of Nigerians that under the past administration, specifically in 2021, the sum of N621.2 billion was approved for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to use for the reconstruction of 21 federal roads, spread across the six geopolitical zones in the country under what was called strategic intervention under the federal government road infrastructure and refreshment tax credit scheme.

“Having shown commitment to fix the roads, unlike its predecessor, we urge the federal government to walk its talk by pushing the contractors to the site before the commencement of the rainy season.

“Unnecessary delay on the part of government and contractors could be inimical to the interest of Nigerian commuters and transporters, as it would be counterproductive to resort to desperate measures during the rainy season.

“A stitch in time saves nine. We don’t want a situation where untouchable contractors will abandon the site and be holding the government to ransom by demanding a variation of cost.”

The PTD further appealed to the federal government to redeem its pledge to repair the Shagamu-Benin road, the Makurdi-Katsina-Ala road, the Kachako-Dambazau road in Kano state, and the Yola-Hong-Mubi road in Adamawa state.

Other roads mentioned include the Okene-Auchi-Benin road, the Lanai-Agai-Bida road, and the East-West Road from Benin-Warri to Port Harcourt.

The union also asked the federal government to provide compressed natural gas (CNG) kits for tankers.

“As a player in the downstream oil and gas sector involved in the haulage of petroleum products, tanker drivers have been excluded in the CNG scheme,” the PTD said.

“There have been no CNG kits for tanker drivers. We can use CNG too to power our tankers. It isn’t only for people using smaller cars. Tankers also need cheaper fuel.”

On October 22, President Bola Tinubu said Nigerians can buy petrol at N1,000 per litre or compressed natural gas (CNG) at N200 per standard cubic meter.