RESOLUTIONS REACHED AT THE MEETING HELD BETWEEN THE FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY CORPS AND NIGERIAN UNION OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS WORKERS (NUPENG-PTD) EXCO ON FRIDAY, 12 FEBRUARY, 2010 AT THE FRSC CONFERENCE ROOM, WUSE ZONE 7, ABUJA

Following certain observed road traffic violations by tanker drivers on Nigerian roads nationwide, the Corps invited the National Executive Committee members of NUPENG-PTD to a meeting to deliberate on the prevailing situation and find an acceptable way forward. At the meeting, the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, FRSC, highlighted the problems encountered on the roads across the country caused by tanker/trailer owners, while the President of NUPENG-PTD, Dr. Timothy Ogbu also brought to the fore certain issues and challenges to be addressed.

2.       At the end of the deliberations, the meeting resolved as follows:

 a.     Road blockade by tanker drivers, no matter the provocation, is unacceptable to both the FRSC and NUPENG-PTD and is not in the interest of the nation. As such, any tanker/trailer driver caught blocking the road should be arrested and prosecuted.

b.     The need to strictly regulate the operations of tanker drivers in Nigeria, which is being addressed with the Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme (RTSSS), and evolving Guidelines/Requirements on Tankers/Trailers Operations Standards in Nigeria.

c.      FRSC should increase its ongoing advocacy and partnership with relevant Federal and States Agencies for the provision of Tanker Parks and Rest Areas across the country.

d.     A commercial driver’s licence with distinct features for tanker drivers to evolve speedily.

e.      Continuous education of tanker drivers to improve their levels of understanding of desired values in road usage.

f.      FRSC should push for a concession by the Government for tanker owners to enable them procure new tankers instead of the second hand ones, as part of FRSC’s Fleet Acquisition and Renewal Scheme (FARS) currently under discussion with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Banks and other stakeholders.

g.      FRSC will collaborate with NUPENG-PTD in enforcing compulsory Life Insurance Policy for tanker drivers.

h.     The meeting resolved to improve the dialogue between NUPENG-PTD, FRSC and other Security Agencies through regular interaction.