The Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, PTD- NUPENG, has decried its exclusion from the Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, conversion scheme granted to other transport associations in the country.
The union said its exclusion from the scheme was a big oversight given its wide network that would have been of immense benefit to the government and Nigerians.
PTD- NUPENG also urged the Federal Government to ensure quick repair of all federal highways before the rainy season to avoid total collapse of road infrastructure, particularly those roads that public funds have already been earmarked for their reconstruction and execution.
The union spoke in a communique issued at the end of its quarterly National Executive Committee meeting held in Benin, Edo State capital at the weekend.
Parts of the communique, signed by comrades Augustine Egbon and Oluchi Chinagorom, National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, read, “We commend the Federal Government for giving favorable consideration to repair of federal highways towards making the roads safer, passable and lessening the burden of transporters whose source of living depend on quality road networks.
“We recall that the present administration had in the last one year earmarked huge public funds to put the federal highways in good shape.
“In June this year, a total sum of N42.4 billion was approved by the Federal Executive Council, as cost of variation for three federal roads in the country.
“Again, last October, FEC approved N740 billion for the Berger stretch of the Abuja-Kano route.
“We want to also nudge the memory of Nigerians that under the past administration, specifically in 2021, the sum of N621.2bn was approved for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL to use for the reconstruction of 21 federal roads, spread across the six geopolitical zones in the country under what was called strategic intervention under the Federal Government Road Infrastructure and Refreshment Tax Credit Scheme.”