The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers on Friday said petroleum tankers were not affected by the Lagos State Government daytime operational restriction.
Tokunbo Korodo, the South West Chairman of the union, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that “the ban had nothing to do with petroleum tankers”.
Korodo, who said petroleum tankers were not captured by the law, added that they could deliver products to any destination any time.
He said: “We are aware of this directive by the Lagos State Government, but the law did not restrict our trucks.
“Tanker drivers can move at any time to deliver its products. We are not affected by the traffic law.
“You can see that our tankers are working all round the clock to lift petroleum products and deliver at designated filling stations nationwide.”
Korodo, however, said the ban was to reduce incessant accident caused by articulated vehicles on Lagos State roads.
NAN recalls that the state government had on September 6 restricted the movement of heavy duty vehicles within the metropolis to between 9pm and 6am.
The government’s action followed the recent Ojuelegba trailer accident, which claimed three lives on September 3.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Oluseyi Whenu, said the movement of articulated vehicles contravened Section 2 (i) and 2 (ii) of the Traffic Law.
Whenu said the government would henceforth impound vehicles and the owners fined whenever there was a breach of the restriction order.
NAN reports that truck drivers under the aegis of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners said they would withdraw their trucks from the road with immediate effect over the restriction directive.
The Chairman of AMATO, Remi Ogungbemi, said it was difficult for members to comply with the state directive on the restriction due to security reasons.
Ogungbemi said the state’s policy restricting trucks’ movement to the night would be hard to comply with because the safety of trucks, drivers and the cargoes could not be guaranteed.
NAN.
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