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NUPENG Warns On Bad Roads, Gridlocks
The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has warned that the persistent gridlock experienced by motorists and other road users on the Eleme Junction Interchange – Onne axis of the East-West Road and the deplorable stretch of KM 16-17 on the Port Harcourt-Aba Road despite the ultimatum by tanker drivers for immediate rehabilitation could snowball into a crippling national socio-economic crisis.
NUPENG) also warned that severe gridlock at Apapa Wharf in Lagos, as a result of the bad sections of the road has turned into a national shame, and should be addressed as quickly as possible to stave off fuel scarcity in the country.
The National Industrial Relations Officer of NUPENG, Bassey Harry, in a chat with The Tide, regretted that the Federal Government was yet to respond to the strike ultimatum issued by tanker drivers over the Eleme/Onne axis of the East-West Road, and restated NUPENG’s support to tanker drivers on the issues.
His words: “We still maintain our position that we are going to withdraw our services because we cannot continue to risk the lives of our drivers and conductors as a result of the bad portions of these key roads to the survival of the nation’s economy.
“We have been asking for intervention over the years. However, any day we realise we can no longer endure the trauma we suffer on these roads, we may have no option than to withdraw our services,” Harry added.
He further stated that the roads have worsened due to the persistent heavy rain fall, and appealed to both the Federal Government and the Rivers State Governments to immediately mobilise contractors to fix the roads before tempers run high.
It would be recalled that the Elelenwo-Akpajo-Eleme-Onne stretch of the East-West Road was completely blocked early yesterday, causing serious traffic jam for between five to six hours for a journey of less than 10 minutes.
In an interview, motorists plying the route appealed to both state and federal governments to come to their rescue by rehabilitating the bad sections of the roads.
Similarly, NUPENG has expressed worry that the gridlock being experienced by petroleum tankers and articulated vehicles on Apapa-Wharf Road may result to fuel scarcity.
The South-West Chairman of the union, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, said this in an interview with newsmen, in Lagos, yesterday.
Our source reports that the gridlock is due to ongoing reconstruction of the Apapa-Wharf Road
Korodo said that since the commencement of the reconstruction of the road, petroleum tanker drivers had been on cue, finding it difficult to gain access to the tank farms to get products.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.