Tankers drivers numbering over twenty (20) used their trucks to block the only road in Odukpani, Odukpani local government area of Cross River State. The road links the State with other parts of the Country. The incident that occurred yesterday disrupted traffic for several hours and the presence of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) did not make any difference as their efforts yielded no positive results.
DAILY POST investigations revealed that some tankers’ drivers committed an undisclosed offence and were escorted by the Assistant Inspector General of Zone six Monitoring units for arrest. Rather than submitting themselves for arrest, they drove recklessly and blocked the only access road to Cross River State.
“The association of Petroleum Tanker Drivers in Calabar have taken over the Odukpani junction, the only Road that links Calabar, Cross River State Capital city with other parts of Nigeria simply because some of their members were arrested by the police for some wrongdoings,” an eyewitness told our correspondent.
The same road, it was gathered links Calabar, part of the Cross River Southern Senatorial District with the Central and Northern District.
Road users travelling from within and outside Calabar could not go out or come in.
“This road is a federal road and is blocked so arrogantly because one ‘Hausa’ tanker driver was arrested for wrongdoing! Can this rubbish be allowed to happen anywhere in the North,” Chief Asukwo Etim told DAILY POST.
“The government must urgently begin to adopt measures that will permanently put an end to this nonsense, the wings of these tankers’ drivers must be clipped by all means. Owners of tankers whose drivers are caught flouting Government orders must be severely punished and sanctioned to serve as a deterrent to others,”,he stated.
“However, what Cross Riverians and non-Cross Riverians are currently passing through in the hands of what so many have described as ‘Nigeria most powerful union’ again reemphasised the need for all and sundry to support the Governor Benedict Ayade’s Super Highway initiative. The realisation of that project would definitely be a game changer for Cross Riverians and non Cross Riverians alike”, he further stated.
One Prince Uduma Ewona who appears to be the member of State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) said, an Emergency Team has just been dispatched from Calabar to immediately clear that nonsense. “The Highway would soon be free for traffic to move as expected,” he said.
When contacted on phone on Saturday, the Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, Ms Irene Ugbo confirmed the incident saying, “ I am aware of the incident, the AIG Monitoring unit escorted some of the tankers’ drivers who committed offence and they blocked the road, their batteries were taken away.”
At the time of filling this report, the road was still blocked.
댓글