The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Thursday held a one-day seminar for members of the National Union of Edible Oil Tanker Drivers of Nigeria (NUEOTDN) and other stakeholders in the edible oil haulage industry.
The engagement aimed to equip participants with knowledge of the Federal Government’s transport regulatory policies on oil haulage and strategies to reduce accidents on Nigerian roads.
FRSC Chief Route Commander, Olasheinde Egbotan, explained key details of the regulatory policies, including mandatory pre-trip inspections. Under the policy, vehicles and drivers undergo tests to ensure they meet a standardised checklist.
He warned drivers to take the new policy seriously, stressing that they would be held responsible in the event of any accident.
Egbotan reminded truck drivers that they require a Class G licence for the operation. He advised the drivers to avoid night driving. He said a mandated 50-minute rest is required after every four hours on the road.
In his opening remarks, Lagos Sector Commander of the FRSC, Corps Commander Kehinde Ganiyu Hamzat, said the engagement with stakeholders in the edible oil industry was a continuation of the Corps’ broader interactions with the petroleum sector.
He said it is categorised into three areas: operator safety standards, driver safety standards, and vehicle safety standards.
He explained: “In the Road Traffic Safety Standardisation Scheme, we look at three standards — operator safety standards, driver safety standards, and, of course, vehicle safety standards.”
Hamzat added: “When we talk about operator safety standards, what are the roles and responsibilities of the owners or companies managing these fleets?
“Do we really have what we call transport managers that coordinate activities within our various departments?”
On driver safety standards, he cautioned against drunk driving and disregard for traffic rules. Vehicle safety standards, he noted, focus on the overall health and roadworthiness of the vehicles.
Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos branch, Comrade Funmi Sessi, thanked the FRSC for investing heavily in the education and exposure of drivers to best practices.
She emphasised the critical role of the FRSC in reducing road accidents. “Because once a life is lost, you can never bring a dead person back to life again.
“That is why we have to take this programme very seriously. The leadership of the people here… the knowledge you gain today, pass it on to your members.”
In his remarks, Kayode Odunowo, chairman of the Lagos branch of NUEOTDN, said the union would be tough on drivers who violate safety rules, warning that such practices would not be tolerated.
Comrade Ilias Aperun, National President of NUEOTDN, represented by Dr Adeyinka Oyediran, also known as Omoba, said efforts to ensure safe edible oil haulage are a collective responsibility.
Alhaji Labaran Sidi, President of the Marketers and Sellers of Edible Oil Association of Nigeria, was among the stakeholders who attended the event.
