Transport Unions Kick, Give FG 14-day Ultimatum on Repairs of Major Roads
Three major unions in the road transport sector, the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners ((NARTO), the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), yesterday disclosed their intentions to begin a nationwide strike in expression of their displeasure with the condition of major road networks across the country.
The unions in this regard, also noted their willingness to give the government of President Muhammadu Buhari up to 14 days to come up with plans and begin full scale rehabilitation of major roads in the country.
They however warned that if the government fails to adhere to their request within the 14 days, they would have to immediately call on their members to down-tool.
They specifically listed parts of the country’s road network which they would want government’s immediate attention on to include the Mokwa-Jebba-Bode-Sa’adu Road; as well as the ElemeObigbo Road; among others.
The unions warned at a press briefing in Abuja that with the nationwide strike, all commercial vehicles will have to withdraw their services from the roads, thus closing down commercial movement of people and goods across the country.
The National President of NARTO, Dr. Kassim Bataiya, National Chairman of PTD, Salmon Oladiti and that of NURTW, Dr. Najim Yasin, made their position known at the briefing.
Bataiya, who spoke on behalf of the unions stated that the need for government’s prompt intervention on the roads had become important following frequent loss of lives and property, vehicle breakdowns as well as accidents on the dilapidated road networks.
He said: “NARTO, PTD and NURTW have therefore, resolved that if after 14 days from the date of this press briefing, government neglects or refuse to commence rehabilitation of Mokwa-Jebba- Bode- Sa’adu road, and Eleme- Obigbo road in particular, we would be left with no option that to withdraw our services of all types of commercial vehicles, tank trucks, trailers, lorries.”
Bataiya further noted that the situation of the roads has continued to impact on the efficiency of their members, adding that delivery times of passengers, goods and services to designated areas are now longer than expected, while the conditions of their vehicle have also continued to deteriorate.
He explained that the associations had also taken into consideration the fact that development of good road infrastructure is a capitally intensive venture and thus asked the government to consider adopting Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements, road concessions, as well as toll levies in upgrading the country’s road networks.
“In Nigeria, with 200,000 kilometres road of federal, states and local governments out of which over 35,000 kilometres of the roads belong to the federal government, it is clear that about 55 per cent to 60 per cent of our roads are in serious state of disrepair.
“However, government should find a way of funding the construction, repairs and maintenance of the road for quick economic growth as well as find a solution to the lack of adequate funding which necessitates low quality of road construction,” said Bataiya.
He equally called for some change of attitude in the use of roads by people, adding that the attitude of road users, hawking and trading on the highways, as well as dumping of refuse, blocking of waterways, lack of parking bays and resting spots for drivers on the highways have also contributed to making travelling on Nigerian roads quite challenging.
Bataiya listed some of the roads in all the six geo-political zones of the country that are not motorable to include the Eleme-Obigbo Road; Calabar- Ikom-Ogoja -Katsina Ala; Calabar-Ikot Ekpene- Aba and Aba-Umuahia; Onitsha-Enugu; 9th Mile-Otukpa; Owerri- Portharcourt; Enugu-Porthar court in the South East.