***Issues Strong Warning on Night Driving
The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has formally ratified the emergence of Comrade Mathias Ote as its substantive National Chairman, reinforcing leadership continuity within the union.
The endorsement was the highpoint of the Branch’s Quarterly National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Warri, where key stakeholders converged to deliberate on issues affecting tanker drivers nationwide.
Ote steps into the role following the demise of the former chairman, Comrade Augustine Egbon, whose tenure was widely regarded as impactful and people-focused.
In his acceptance speech, the new chairman struck a reflective tone, honoring his predecessor’s legacy while signaling a forward-looking agenda anchored on unity, welfare, and responsible leadership.
He described the late Egbon as a pillar of strength whose dedication to the union left lasting footprints, noting that sustaining that legacy would require collective commitment.
Ote, however, did not dwell long on tributes. He quickly pivoted to the realities confronting tanker drivers, placing safety at the center of his message.
With growing concerns over insecurity and road accidents, he issued a firm caution against night driving, describing it as a dangerous practice that exposes drivers to avoidable risks.
According to him, incidents of truck hijacking, kidnapping, and fatal crashes are more prevalent after dark, worsened by the poor state of critical road infrastructure across the country.
He urged members to rethink long-standing habits and prioritize their lives over delivery timelines, stressing that the consequences of night travel often extend beyond the individual driver.
Reinforcing this position, National Trustee of NUPENG, Comrade Salimon Akanni Oladiti, appealed to drivers to align with the new directive, emphasizing that safety must not be compromised for any reason.
He warned that accidents not only threaten lives but also have economic implications, as affected drivers risk being labeled liabilities by employers.
The NEC meeting ultimately blended leadership affirmation with a clear message: under Ote’s watch, discipline, safety, and accountability will take precedence as the union navigates evolving challenges in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
