Niger govt insists it will close its roads despite threat from petroleum tankers group

The Niger State Government on Thursday defied the threat by Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) that it would no longer supply the north with petroleum products if the Niger State government keeps its roads shut. The state government insists it will not go back on the restriction order it placed two days ago on heavy trucks to stop plying its roads.

The insistence even as the government assured that its position will be reviewed as event concerning the closure unfolds, a statement by the spokeswoman to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, Mrs. Mary Noel-Berje, said.

Unverified reports have it that the state has been under pressure from the federal government and other stakeholders to rescind its closure decision to avert heightening tensions in the northern part of the country.

The state government this Thursday maintained that its decision to close all its roads to articulated vehicles was done within the confines of law, stressing that adequate consultations and sensitisation with relevant stakeholders were made; and two weeks notice served to the general public, including relevant road transport organisations before the roads were barricaded.

The government statement added that it will not relent in ensuring that state roads are not accessed by the vehicles, adding that the heavy trucks are free to use the alternative federal roads that transverse the state. 

It added that beyond the current closure to fast track the reconstruction of the Minna-Bida Road, measures would be evolved such as weigh-bridges to ensure that the movement of articulated vehicles on its roads are regulated to avoid heavy flow of traffic beyond the capacity of the roads. 

Chairman of the Infrastructure, Project Monitoring and Implementation Committee, who is also the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Ibrahim Balarabe, briefed journalists on the latest development and was quoted in the statement as saying: “There is no going back on Niger state government’s decision on the ban on articulated trucks from plying the state-owned roads. We still stand on our position and will not relent on that. Our roads still remain closed to articulated trucks”.

He enjoined the federal government to rise up to the occasion and do the needful on federal roads needing rehabilitation in the State.

Recall that on Wednesday, .PTD, in a statement by its National Chairman, Otunba Salimon Oladiti, said: “we want to use this medium to inform the general public that from … Thursday, September 17, our members will not be lifting products from Lagos to the northern part of the country because the Niger State government has shut out heavy-duty trucks, including tankers, from passing through the state.

“The only alternative road is not motorable. This is Bida- Agai- Lapai-Lambata Road. In fact, this road is a deathtrap.

“When we got wind of the plan of the Niger State Government to shut the roads about weeks back, I spoke to the Minister of Works through one of his aides and he assured that the ministry would do palliative and remedial works on the road.

“Unfortunately, over two weeks after our discussion, nothing has been down on the roads.

“As leaders, we have to do the needful and protect the lives of our members from avoidable accidents and attacks from hoodlums.

“So starting from tomorrow, September 17, our members will not be lifting products from Lagos to the Northern part of the country. Until the Federal Government makes the alternative road motorable, our members will not resume lifting of products to the northern part of the country.

“In the letter to our State Chairman, the Niger State Government, through its Ministry of Transport, dated September 9, by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Abdullahi U. Imam, informed us about its decision to shut out all heavy trucks vehicles from passing through the link and major roads in the state from Tuesday.

“The letter read ‘You are aware of efforts of the Niger State government to rehabilitate Minna-Bida Road and major roads leading to Minna.

“‘These efforts have largely been frustrated because of the heavy presence of heavy trucks plying these roads.

“‘In view of the forgoing, we hereby notify you of government’s decision for a total shutdown of all linking roads to Minna to heavy trucks from 12 midnight of September 15.

“‘You will, please, bring this information to all your members in order to guide them to find alternative routes for their movements’.

“Consequently, we have directed our members (tanker drivers) to stop lifting products from Lagos to the northern part of the country until further notice.”