NNPC Partners FRSC on action plan for haulage operators

The partnership became necessary following a stakeholders’ summit for haulage in Nigeria held few days back at the instance of the SGF, the Chief Operating Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Downstream on the need to have a plan of action for the haulage industry, especially on safety issues.

FRSC Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, at a meeting with the Chief Operating Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Downstream, Mr. Henry Ikem Obih, stated the need for the harmonization of data between FRSC, NNPC, Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF) and Petroleum Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPRA).

He equally addressed the issues of Safety Valves which must be in place in all tankers to make sure that where there is a crash incident, the content of the tanker is not spilled; compliance to Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme (RTSSS); and for Tankers to have Three Plate numbers.

Other issues the Corps Marshal raised at the meeting were: provisions being made to acquire Equipment for testing trucks at Tank Farms, Payment of Trucks tied to meeting minimum standards, Fleet renewal for truck Operators, capacity building of Staff at Tank Farms, Harmonization of Operating safety requirements at all Tank Farms, Possibility of Pegging tanker carrying capacity to 33,000 liters.

Mr. Henry Ikem Obih expressed his gratitude to the Corps for the support through monitoring of tankers at the depot, and equally stated that NNPC is committed to maintaining the working relationship to ensure Operational Excellence, Security and Coordination.

While he noted that the trucks plying roads in Nigeria are many and expressed their interest in making sure that trucks arrive their destinations safely, he assured the Corps of their Cooperation and commitment to the Action Plans as it will ensure that there is no scarcity of fuel.

He advised that before getting to the implementation stage, other stakeholders like Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas/Petroleum Tanker Drivers (NUPENG-PTD), Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) be involved from the onset.

With a view to engendering participation amongst all stakeholders, the COO advised MOMAN and DAPPMAN to invest in Driving Schools which he believes will have positive effect on Drivers of articulated vehicles who he believes feel big and therefore, engage their Motor boys with the responsibility of driving their trucks.