The Petroleum Tankers Drivers Association (PTD) on Monday disclosed that over 40 of its members are currently languishing in prison custody across various states in Nigeria.
The detainees face diverse allegations, including accidents and incomplete documentation such as weigh bills.
Comrade Ibrahim Osa, spokesperson for the Petroleum Tankers Drivers Association (Cross River State branch), alongside Abdulahi Adamu, expressed these concerns during a press briefing in Calabar on Monday.
The disclosure unfolded amid a protest led by PTD members at the NNPC tank farm in Esukutang, Calabar.
Highlighting the distressing situation, the PTD spokespersons condemned what they described as the imposition of PTD executives. They raised grievances against the alleged neglect and lack of intervention in the cases of their incarcerated members.
“Over 40 of our members are suffering in prison without anyone coming to their rescue or attempting to intervene in their cases. Drivers are facing hardships, and NUPENG cannot appoint a Chairman for us,” asserted the spokespersons.
The PTD representatives accused certain Nigeria Union Of Petroleum And Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) leaders of purportedly imposing individuals unrelated to tanker driving as chairmen.
They voiced their discontent, stressing the need for transparent elections and resistance against the imposition of non-driver individuals into leadership positions.
The association claimed that NUPENG’s leadership was allegedly imposing farmers and carpenters onto their electoral processes, individuals who, according to PTD, lack relevance to the tanker driving sector.
The PTD representatives expressed interest in joining the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NATO), stressing the necessity for proper insurance coverage for their members who have worked without such protections.
In response to the protest, Mr Peter Joshua, representing the National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers of Nigeria (NUPENG), denied awareness of any demonstrations in Calabar. He refuted allegations of oppressive measures against the PTD members, dismissing claims of NUPENG’s involvement in such actions.
The situation highlights a significant standoff within the petroleum sector, underscoring the need for transparent leadership elections and addressing the reported incarceration of tanker drivers across the country.
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