Fix Depots, Tank Farms’ Roads, NUPENG Tells FG

The Chairman, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Port Harcourt zone, Comrade Charles Eleto, has appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action towards fixing roads leading to tank farms and depots in Rivers State to avert industrial action by the union.
Eleto who made the appeal during an interview with The Tide in his office said the situation of the Eleme road leading to Eleme refinery as well as other tank farms in the state poses serious danger to the lives of tanker drivers and their products.
“It will be a problem if government refuses to wake up to its responsibilities.  I know the Rivers State Government and the Federal Government have what it takes to fix the roads.
“If not, we either withdraw tanker from services. I know that the state governor is trying, but he should do more to make sure that supplies and distribution of petroleum products is not withdrawn”, he said.
The NUPENG boss in the zone who estimated the content of a truck load of products at least N5million explained that in an event of falling down, no one could predict how far the petrol fire that goes with it can reach and the number of lives that could be lost in such event.
He regretted that important roads leading to refineries, depots and tank farms were being neglected by the government inspite of the great roles they play to the national economy.
Stressing that NUPENG is not interested in going on strike for the sake of it,  Eleto said such action will be resorted to if the government fails to live up to its responsibilities.
He commended Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State for his effort towards rehabilitating the road as was the case when his administration took steps to rehabilitate the roads leading to refineries, but urged the governor to do more in that direction.
The Petroluem Tanker Drivers (PTD) which is a branch of NUPENG had lamented that part of East-West Raod especially Akpajo junction, Oyigbo and Eleme junction had become a death trap.
PTD Chairman, Rivers State branch, Mr Lucky Etuoku who noted that the association had lost lives of its members due to the deplorable condition of the road, urged the government to fix the bad spot on the roads before they become impassable.

Chris Oluoh