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Petroleum Tankers Under Siege: Drivers Send SOS to Governor Sanwoolu Amid LASTMA Rampage

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  • *Petroleum Transport Crisis: LASTMA Under the current Commissioner of Transport and Sola Giwa Accused of Orchestrating Violent Extortion*

In a dramatic turn of events at the Ibeju Lekki Free Trade Zone early this morning, concerned petroleum tanker drivers have issued an SOS message to Governor Babajide Sanwoolu and the leadership of the PTD branch of NUPENG.

The drivers, who rely on the zone—home to major industrial facilities including the Dangote Refineries and Pinnacle Oil and Gas—to transport petroleum products, claim they have been relentlessly targeted by officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA).

At approximately 2:00 am on February 22, 2025, LASTMA officials, allegedly in collusion with thugs from the Tax Force, launched a violent incursion into the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

Because of ban of night driving by the union for safety reasons, we parked many of the trucks we loaded at night on a single lane to continue our journey the next morning.

We gathered from a reliable source that the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation/Commissioner of Transport is also aware of the recent siege against Tanker Drivers but kept mute for reasons best known to them.

Eyewitnesses report that the law enforcement operatives forcefully towed tanker vehicles, arrested drivers, and even fired shots sporadically into the air over a period of more than two hours. The chaotic scenes have left many questioning the true motive behind the operation.

It is also pertinent to note that it has been the usual practice of LASTMA, accompanied by thugs and The Nigeria Police task force, to storm tanker trucks’ locations and forcefully tow tanker trucks in Mile 2, Apapa, Ibeju Lekki, and other areas.

Controversy has further escalated with allegations that the Lagos State Commissioner of Transport, Hon. Sola Giwa—the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation and the man reportedly at the helm of LASTMA’s recent activities—is orchestrating these aggressive moves.

According to sources, the Commissioner of Transport, Sola Giwa, along with their associates has been actively involved in the planning and execution of what drivers describe as a systematic campaign of harassment, intimidation, and extortion. Among the most damning claims is the imposition of an unlawful “E-callup” fee amounting to 12,500 naira per tanker, a practice that has reportedly become routine under the current regime.

According to a driver who crave to be anonymous, “they intentionally target tanker trucks for extortion, they have turned tanker trucks to a coded source of income. And are planning to legalize the extortion through N12,500 of E-Call up.” he narrated.,

However, the Transport Commission, Sola Giwa and their team always calls stakeholder meetings and media chat that the aim of the “E-Call up” is to avoid the build-up of traffic congestion like Apapa. Meanwhile, Ibeju Lekki’s case is different, and the drivers have been loading seamlessly without any “E-Call up.”

It is also noteworthy that the sum of 12,500 naira as a fee has never been mentioned in any of these meetings which has now made PTD members raise an eyebrow about the legitimacy of the “E-callup” and to whose advantage it is.

The drivers having gotten wind of the information, know that the money is the reason they find it difficult to start, and they hope the union leaders will not mistakenly agree with their oppressors because it would cause big crises in Lagos State.

However, the tanker drivers have vowed that if their ability to deliver petroleum products to designated filling stations is compromised, the entire blame will rest on LASTMA, under the leadership of the present Commissioner of Transport and Sola Giwa.

The drivers wondered why the state government agents are trying to scuffle loading activity in Ibeju Lekki- Are they angry with Dangote Refinery? Are they angry that there is no more fuel scarcity in the state? What is their main reason for clamping down on a working system that effectively provided and delivers petroleum products across the nation.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, a private individual single handedly provided a state of heart refinery at that location and our government agents could not look for a way to support and create a enabling environment for the residents and workers in the area. All they are after is how to disrupt the system and make money off it.

Alhaji Aliko is building roads in the area, these government agents are not thinking of supporting him with additional roads-there is only one access road from Eleko, they are not thinking how they will create another exit road that will link Ore, Benin etc All they know is to talk about E-Call up because of money they want to make.

What were they looking at when Aliko Group is setting up refinery in that area? As a proactive state agent they claim to be, why couldn’t they advise the government to acquire land that could park 10,000 trucks at a go and make a modern park out of it. It is obvious that they do not care about the progress of the refinery and even the citizens of the state, they are only after their pockets. Imagine clamping down on innocent workers by 2am and forcefully towing LOADED trucks away.

“We are not merely fighting for our business, but for our lives,” one driver lamented, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

They have another associate -Hassan who is tormenting us in Apapa, Presently Hassan and others, especially are getting bolder and aggressively arresting tanker trucks without any reason and charging exorbitant amounts for their release.

“This illegality cannot continue; a stop must be put to it,” another PTD member quipped.

As panic and unrest grow among the nation’s petroleum transport community, the drivers have appealed to the highest levels of state and national leadership of the PTD branch of NUPENG for immediate intervention.

They insist that without swift and decisive action from Governor Sanwoolu and PTD leadership, the situation could escalate further, jeopardizing not only their livelihoods but also the nation’s fuel supply chain.

The Lagos State government is yet to issue an official response, leaving many to wonder how the crisis will be resolved.

In the meantime, the tanker drivers stand united in their call for justice and protection, determined to hold LASTMA accountable for what they describe as a brazen assault on their rights and safety.

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SERAP sues Akpabio over ‘failure to reverse unlawful suspension of Natasha Akpoti’

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The group argues that the suspension is unlawful and violates her fundamental right to freedom of expression.

SERAP is seeking a court order compelling Akpabio to reverse the six-month suspension, reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan, and restore all her legislative privileges. The organization also wants an injunction preventing the Senate from imposing further disciplinary actions against her for expressing her views.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended after she reportedly spoke without permission and rejected a new seat assignment in the Senate chamber. As part of her suspension, her salary and allowances have been withheld, and she has been barred from identifying as a senator.

In its suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP contends that the suspension deprives Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents of political representation. The organization also argues that penalizing a senator for exercising free speech creates a chilling effect on other lawmakers.

“No one should ever be punished for speaking without permission,” SERAP stated. “The Senate should uphold the rule of law and protect human rights, not suppress them.”

The group cites constitutional provisions and international human rights treaties, including Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

SERAP maintains that the Senate Standing Orders cannot override constitutional guarantees of free speech. The lawsuit emphasizes that restricting a senator’s expression undermines democracy and violates Nigerians’ right to receive information and participate politically.

No date has been set for the hearing of the case.

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Market associations, women groups knock el-Rufai, rally support for Tinubu, Gov Sani

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Ahead of the 2027 elections, hundreds of members of market associations and numerous women groups in Kaduna state at the weekend, occupied Kaduna metropolis in a peaceful demonstration where they reiterated their loyalty and support to the administration of
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The protesters who alleged that they had bitter experiences during the El-Rufa’i administration, said they would remain where Governor Uba Sani stood and advised the citizens of Kaduna not to be deceived by doing the contrary.
They recounted their ordeals during the 8 years of the previous administration, alleging that hundreds of market shops belonging to individuals were either seized, demolished or confiscated, a situation that triggered ill health in many traders and business owners leading to paralysis and multiple deaths of their colleagues.

“We’ve been in the market for over 40 years and have never experienced the kind of set backs we suffered under the previous Governor.”

“A lot of lives were lost,a lot of finances were ruined by reason of his kind of policies. We are here to speak with one voice and say that anything that would kind of revive such kind of philosophy in Kaduna market, we don’t want it,” Daniel Audu Maigari, a stakeholder of the Kaduna Market associations, has said.

He explained that “this incumbent Governor began by healing the wounds, the wounds that were really severed by the former Governor. Governor Uba Sani has been doing so,so very well and that’s why we’ve been with our leader, Alhaji Abdurrahman Mohammed, who like Governor Sani,has been charting the right course, ensuring programmes and plans that will heal these wounds .”

He said there was never been a time they are having the impact of leadership in Kaduna market, like they are having now.

” Now we’ve lots of incentives, lots of policies that are driving us to progress .We are now standing with one voice to denounce anything that would reverse this,” he said.

Alhaji Daiyabu Ismail Mai Gwanjo, Chairman Stakeholders of the Kaduna State Market Traders associations, said on behalf of their leader,Alhaji Abdurrahman Mohammed, his EXCO and all trader leaders in the 23 Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, they have gathered to unilaterally declare an unalloyed support to Governor Uba Sani who had taken care of them and protected their interests.
According to him,” we have to say so,haven had the harrowing experience in the hands of the past administration. The scar still remains and many are yet to recover.”
“But when Almighty Allah sent Governor Uba Sani to us,he declared he would not do anything bad to traders because the world thrives on businesses.All the most cherished countries like China, Canada, UAE, India,are very proud of and supportive to their traders and other business persons.”

“Unfortunately, we found ourselves during the previous administration that neither showed empathy nor sympathy to traders. An approximate number of 36 markets were demolished at that time.None of these markets was completely rebuild ,till date,and we are suspicious of the collaboration between the previous administration and the market developers.”

“We are therefore calling on Governor Uba Sani, our Governor of sympathy and understanding, to look at this issue with a view to resolving it.We are with Uba Sani a hundred percent, ” he added.

Hajiya Hadiza Abdulaziz,a woman leader of the market association,said they have gathered in multitudes to reiterate their support to the APC and Governor Uba Sani who has tremendously supported the market men and women in Kaduna State.
” Most of the market women had no shops because the shops were collected. But now we give God the glory everybody has gotten their shops back and nobody will collect it again,” she said.

She expressed happiness that those making the market women not to achieve, had left the party and government.

“We’ve been crying, a lot of market women don’t have capital, they have been deceiving us.But now,I believe Governor Uba Sani is going to assist us,”she added.

The protesters later took to the streets ,displaying placards with various inscriptions denouncing the previous arrangements, and chanting slogans in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani and the All Progressives Congress, APC.
” Most of the market women had no shops because the shops were collected. But now we give God the glory everybody has gotten their shops back and nobody will collect it again,” she said.

She expressed happiness that those making the market women not to achieve, had left the party and government.

“We’ve been crying, a lot of market women don’t have capital, they have been deceiving us.But now,I believe Governor Uba Sani is going to assist us,”she added.

The protesters later took to the streets ,displaying placards with various inscriptions denouncing the previous arrangements, and chanting slogans in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani and the All Progressives Congress, APC.

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Obasanjo bemoans selection process of traditional rulers in Nigeria

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised concerns over the selection process of traditional rulers in Nigeria, stating that criminal elements have infiltrated royal institutions. He lamented that individuals with questionable backgrounds, including drug addicts, vagabonds, bandits, and kidnappers, now hold positions of authority as traditional rulers.

Obasanjo made these remarks in his newly released book, Nigeria: Past and Future, unveiled last week. He criticized the rapid increase in traditional rulers, many of whom, he claimed, lack the training and moral integrity required for the role. According to him, this deterioration has weakened the institution’s ability to contribute positively to the nation’s socio-political stability.

“Today, there are criminals, drug addicts, vagabonds, bandits, and kidnappers as so-called traditional rulers,” Obasanjo stated, stressing that some have abandoned their cultural responsibilities and engaged in misconduct. He cited an example of a monarch allegedly involved in electoral malpractice, questioning the moral integrity of such leaders.

“How do we account for a traditional ruler snatching a ballot box at an election polling station and running away with it?” he queried.

Reflecting on the past, Obasanjo noted that traditional rulers once commanded immense respect, especially during colonial and early post-independence eras. However, he said, their influence has been diluted due to the lack of proper training and moral reformation.

“The class of traditional rulers with their distinction, honour, and dignity, as we knew them in the colonial days and early post-independence days, has been diluted and polluted,” he remarked.

Calling for urgent reforms, the former president stressed the need to restore the lost dignity of traditional leadership. He emphasized that rather than being a liability, traditional rulers should play a vital role in national development.

“That dignity, aura, and respect should be brought back, and traditional rulers should be an asset to Nigeria’s development and greatness, not a liability,” he asserted.

Obasanjo further called for moral rejuvenation among traditional rulers, particularly those from historically significant institutions. He maintained that if properly positioned, they could contribute significantly to Nigeria’s long-term progress.

“There is a need for moral re-armament among the traditional rulers—the ancient and historic ones. They can and should make meaningful contributions to the Nigeria of our dreams that will serve the purpose and interest of all,” he concluded.

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