Checking Excesses of Petrol Tanker Drivers

Members of the Tanker Drivers section of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) stopped lifting products in Rivers State since last week, and thus created artificial scarcity without any understandable cause.

Expectedly, the situation has adversely affected economic activities in Port Harcourt, the oil and gas capital of Nigeria and environs and caused a lot of concern among residents and visitors alike. Already, activities of black market operators have reached feverish pitch, forcing up product prices beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians.

Unfortunately, the reason for disruption of that essential service has been traced to the enforcement of an illegal strike by the tanker drivers said to be protesting  the arrest of some of their members over traffic offences in Port Harcourt.

Although, the action of the tanker drivers has been roundly condemned by residents of the State as unfair, un-civilised and un-lawful, the drivers have refused to return to work. It appears they will not blink until the State Government bows to their intimidation.

The Tide joins millions of Rivers people and indeed the Public and Private sector operating in the State to totally condemn the culture of impunity now frequently demonstrated by tanker drivers we insist that this time government resist the familiar arm-twisting antics of this group of lawless Nigerians and do everything to drive home the message that none is above the laws.

Only recently, the same drivers blocked regular traffic along the Iwofe axis of the State capital for nearly one week within which period businesses in the area were grounded, movement impeded and no fewer than 40 lives lost when residents turned to the river in frustrating attempts to access other parts of Port Harcourt.

After that sorry incident, tanker Drivers have continued to operate against the law that prescribes when and how they should operate. But their excesses came to a head when parts of Ikwerre Road and the whole of Abonnema Wharf Road were constantly blocked to traffic by tankers waiting to load fuel at a depot located along the Abonnema Wharf Road.

After repeated persuasions to park away from the road failed, officials of the State Transport Management Agency (TIMARIV) arrested about seven defaulters.

And for that, tanker drivers have been on strike to the detriment of delicate economic activities. And without prior warning or declaration of industrial dispute.

This is unacceptable. Clearly, what they have done is illegal and must been dealt with according to law. There is no reason why so few a people should throw the whole society into chaos especially without cogent reasons. If they are not called to order now they will become even more lawless and remain untouchable even when they indulge in armed robbery.

Perhaps, they should be made to realise that they have deliberately sabotaged the economy of the State and that of the nation as a whole; by causing artificial scarcity of petroleum product and engineering a hike in the cost of fuel and other goods.

This is why we suggest that the leadership of the union that ordered the strike should be arrested and tried. Indeed, the rules are clear on how and when trade disputes can be declared. Those processes were not followed simply because they were in a hurry to disrupt the peace of the land.

While they face the law, we expect that all the tankers still lying along the road be removed with a view to averting accidents. There are also other disused trailers in other parts of Port Harcourt, like the one opposite the Mile I market, that should be removed soonest.

On the face-off between the State and the tanker drivers, we commend the steps taken by government, especially by taking the offenders to court. It also behoves the tanker drivers to take the part of honour and law by proving the innocence of their members before the courts and not resort to crude and lawless antics.

Even so, we expect that the State Government should establish more parks where trucks and other heavy duty vehicles can park at a fee. On the other hand, there should be deliberate liaison between the depot management and government on how to control tankers waiting to load products

Similarly, the situation where, only one depot has products at a given time can be dangerous. We expect that fuel depots would be made to work across the land with a view to checking avoidable pressures on any single one in a region. In addition, we expect that marketers should patronise depots nearest to them and not converge on Port Harcourt all the time.

Finally, we want to join the good people of Rivers State to appeal to the tanker drivers to resume work immediately and lessen the burden of the ordinary citizens. We expect that they will see the reason to subject themselves to the laws of the land and quickly too.