Haulage stakeholders inaugurate taskforce to end truck accidents

The Joint National Transport Safety Committee has inaugurated a new Task Force to ensure the safety of road haulage system across the country.

Its National Chairman, Mr Taiwo Mogbojuri, said this during a stakeholders meeting in Lagos on Monday.

Mogbojuri said that the taskforce would proffer solutions to the frequent cargoes, general haulage and petro-gas trucks accidents on Nigerian roads.

The theme for this year’s general meeting is; ‘‘Implementation of Safe Trucks Transportation System in Nigeria”.

Mogbojuri said that the stakeholders meeting was held to ensure safety cargoes, freight and petroleum products on road transportation system.

According to him, the forum will ensure effective collaboration with all stakeholders toward saving cargoes, general haulage and to also proffer solutions to frequent truck accidents.

Mogbojuri applauded Dr Odutola Tajudeen Kasali, Chairman Advisory Board of the Committee, for his commitment and support towards promoting trucks operational safety compliance in Lagos and Nigeria at large.

“We are pleased to inform you of the appointment of Comrade Moruf Ayobami a.k.a Sanwo Ayaluu as the Chairman of Taskforce Operation Lagos State and Free Trade Zones Corridor, Ibeju Lekki Lagos.

“The stakeholders meeting became necessary to discuss issues on how to mitigate incessant heavy duties trucks accidents on Nigerian roads and the implications to the economy.

“Over the years, Nigeria has witnessed incidents, featured trucks tumbling over and spilling their contents. Lives have been lost, limbs broken and vehicles, roads and adjacent property damaged .

“We recall the tragic incident that occurred on Otedola Bridge on June 28, 2018; at this incident, 12 lives were lost, many people were injured and at least 55 vehicles were lost to the inferno.

“The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency revealed that in 2022, out of the 1,259 emergency calls it received concerning vehicle disasters, 368 incidents involved truck/tanker accidents, 536 other vehicle accidents.

“A total of 46 trailer accidents between January 2021 and October 3, 2023, 81 persons died in tanker explosions and fire,” Mognojuri said.

He said that the committee would use the platform of the general meeting to interact with stakeholders, especially to discuss and proffer solutions to major operational challenges facing the

industry and the nation at large.

“We wish to assure you that the committee is ready to work with all stakeholders to drive and enhance good business practices and safety culture in the downstream sector and the petroleum Industry as a whole.

“The forthcoming general meeting and inauguration ceremony have been planned to sharpen our regulatory initiatives to ensuring better safety, especially in the road haulage system across Nigeria.

Mogbojuri said that the committee’s inter-governmental partnership cut across the relevant federal and state government agencies which included, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian Police Force,

Federal Ministry of Transportation, Federal Ministry of Works, Nigeria, Shippers’ Council and Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

He said that other tripartite

partners include Maritime Union Workers of Nigeria, Lagos Association of Maritime Contractors, Petro and Gas Servicing Operators and Water Transporters, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Nigeria

Employers Consultative Association and Lekki FTZ Unified Transport, Trucks and Trailers Hub.

Mogbojuri said that major stakeholder units expected to participate in the proposed meeting would include executives of Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum

Regulatory Commission, Nigeria Port Authority, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation.

He also mentioned the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Federal and State Fire Services Lagos and National Emergency Management Agency, Shipping Association of Nigeria, Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners, Petroleum

Tanker Drivers (PTD), Depot and Petroleum Product Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN).

Also to be included are the Independent Petroleum Product Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Lubricant Producers Association of Nigeria (LUPAN), Association of

Maritime Trucks Owners, The Container Truck Owners Association of Nigeria, Allied Truck Transport Association of Nigeria and Association of Nigeria Custom License Agents.