The Petroleum Tankers Drivers Association (PTD) has reported that more than forty tanker drivers are incarcerated in the 36 states that make up the federal government for offenses ranging from mishaps to inaccurate weigh-in tickets.
During a demonstration in Calabar, PTD spokespersons for Cross River State, Comrade Ibrahim Osa, and the national office, Abdullahi Adamu, made these claims.
Speaking to reporters at the Esukutang Farm, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Depot protest organized by association members in Calabar, PTD spokespersons objected to the union’s executives being forced onto them.
They said, “Over 40 of our members are suffering in prison custody without nobody coming to their rescue or making attempts to intervene in their cases
“The National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers of Nigeria (NUPENG), cannot select any chairman for us. Our drivers die on a daily basis or are thrown to prison without anybody coming to their rescue.
“Afolabi and Oladiti are our problems. NUPENG is cheating us. We used to conduct elections, now election period has come, Afolabi and co want to impose non-drivers on us as our leaders.
“As drivers we have driven for years without anything to show. NUPENG should allow us to conduct our elections.”
The group asked Olatidi and Kilanko not to meddle in the election of tanker drivers, while accusing NUPENG of forcing farmers and carpenters on them even though they have no business driving tankers.
In response to the event, Mr. Peter Joshua, a NUPENG representative, stated that his organization was not aware of any tanker drivers’ protest in Calabar.
