By Victor AhiumaYoung

The leadership of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, led by Augustine Egbon, has said it will stop the movement of tankers from 6pm as part of efforts to address cases of night accidents and attacks on tanker drivers by night marauders.

While unfolding the agenda of the new PTD leadership, the National Chairman informed that the new executive of PTD under his leadership would pay greater attention to the safety and welfare of tanker drivers among others.

Egbon was elected National Chairman of PTD on Wednesday, July 3, at the National Industrial Court, NIC-ordered Special Delegates Conference, SDC, alongside 15 other members into different positions across the Kaduna, Warri, Lagos, and Port Harcourt zones of PTD with about 570 delegates in attendance.

Speaking with Vanguard, Egbon informed that “in an election of this nature, there is no doubt that some people may be aggrieved one way or the other. So, we will embark on reconciliation to solidify the strong bond that holds us together as family because we in PTD are one family united under one umbrella that is NUPENG.

“We will also focus our attention on the safety of our members. We are going to ensure that our members, the tanker drivers, no longer drive at night to check cases of night accidents and the attacks by hoodlums including hijack of trucks and products. As a result, we will ensure that movement of tankers across the country stops at 6pm. What it means is that wherever the tanker driver is, once it is 6pm, he has to look for a safe place to park till the following morning before he proceeds to his destination.  

Speaking , President of NUPENG, Prince Williams Akporeha, urged the newly elected officers to stay focused and be dedicated to the growth of the union, saying: “There is no faction in PTD, all of us are one. We are one with NUPENG.  There is no division anywhere.”

Augustine Egbon was elected National Chairman to run the affairs of PTD for a term of four years. 

He defeated Lucky Osesua who stayed away from the venue of the election. 

Earlier, Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Solomon Kilanko, noted that the SDC in line with the judgment of the NIC Abuja Division which had earlier nullified the election of PTD leaders, saying: “The judgment also demands that the election to be conducted should be all inclusive and non-discriminatory. To this end, the electoral committee notified all members that no one is barred from participating in this election and in addition, the list of delegates that are eligible today is still the same list that was used for October 31, 2023 election in Ibadan to ensure that all those suspended after the election are allowed to participate in this election.”

Oluchi Chinagorom from PortHarcourt zone of the union was elected National Secretary which equally produced Lawan Garba, Mathias Ote, Dauda Olabisi and Olaolu Akinmuyise, as National Vice-Chairman, Kaduna, Warri, Lagos and Port Harcourt zones of the PTD, respectively. 

The dou of Malut Abubakar and Odinakachi Nwafor emerged First Deputy National Chairman and Second Deputy National Chairman, respectively.

The SDC was in compliance with judgment of Justice O. Y Anuwe of the NIC, Abuja Division, which on May 29, 2024, annulled an earlier election, in Ibadan, Oyo State in October, 2023.