Following the death of 11 students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ogun State, Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, has ordered that any trucks that failed to “lash’’ its container be impounded.
Oyeyemi gave the order on Wednesday during a meeting with stakeholders in road haulage at his office in Abuja.
According to him, such trucks are a threat to roads and other users.
“ The death of OOU students due to failure of the truck driver to lash its container was a big loss to the nation.
“It is very painful because the students’ lives were cut short, not because of their own error but failure of the truck driver to adhere to basic safety standard of lashing the container to the truck.
“Henceforth, any truck that moves without having its container lashed to it will be impounded so that we will reduce loss of lives and property due to indiscipline of some operators ,” he said.
The OOU students died last week in a road accident when a container fell on top their bus from a truck moving against traffic.
Oyeyemi also called for collaboration between FRSC and stakeholders in petroleum and related products sector to ensure that tanker drivers adhered to safety standard when pursuing their business.
The FRSC boss reiterated the need for tanker operators to also adhere to safety standard which include proper maintenance of their vehicle and installation of essential devices.
According to the corps marshal, tank safety valve must be seen as a necessity by tanker operators in order to avoid oil spillage at any slight tilt of the vehicle.
Chairman, Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD-NUPENG), Mr Salimonu Oladiti, said his members would work closely with FRSC to ensure safety and sanity on the roads.
The meeting was attended by the leadership and representatives of stakeholders in haulage transportation, including the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Assoociation of Nigeria (IPMAN).
The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN); Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF); National Association of Road Transport Owners(NARTO) and National Union of Petroleum Employees and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG), also attended.
