The officials of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) of the Warri Command have paid a working visit to the executives of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), at the PTD secretariat , Niger Cat Area, Ekpan in Uvwie Local Government Area, in a bid to eradicate accidents on the ever busy Effurun/Warri-NPA Express Way,

The Commandant of FRSC Warri Unit Command, Saidu Isa, in his speech at the event, appreciated the PTD for the synergy between the two bodies, saying that the primary assignment of the FRSC is the safety of the people,  “This informed our visit. FRSC came up with an initiative in 2012 with the aim of assigning people to different depots to ensure the safety standard of vehicles before conveying products.”

He stated that PTD are expected to work hand in hand with the FRSC office situated in their park to ensure that the tankers are in good condition.

According to FRSC boss, reports he got  from ‘ The Safe To Load programme ‘  indicate that some tankers have two to three plate numbers while others do not have at all.

Commandant Isa also complained about the indiscriminate parking and abandoning of tankers and trailers on the Effurun/NPA Warri Express Way, noting that the oil tankers and Dangote trailers are causing traffic jam and as well as causing avoidable accidents.

He cited the fatal accident that claimed the life of a staff of DESOPADEC and two others recently and he pleaded that all abandoned vehicles should be cleared from the road.

While condemning the act of bribery, he noted that it could endanger both the lives of the drivers and other road users adding that “a life lost can never be regained. So PTD should engage in training and retraining of its members”.

In Response, the chairman of PTD, Comrade Sunday Okopie, thanked the FRSC for the visit, promising that PTD is always ready to work with FRSC to ensure an accident- free.

However, he said it is the responsibility of FRSC to remove abandoned trucks on the expressway as it is done in Lagos and elsewhere.

He also called on government to complete the phase 11 tanker park located in the Ekpan area without further delay to decongest the road of tankers.