Connect with us

News

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

Published

on

  • *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.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

N10bn Alleged Loot: EFCC Probes SGF Akume’s PA ,Torhile Uchi

Published

on

Indications emerged that the personal Assistant to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF Senator George Akume, Hon. Andrew Torhile Uchi, is currently in the facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over allegations bordering on corruption, bribery and money laundering amounting to a whooping N10 billion.

A highly placed source at the Commission yesterday, confirmed to our correspondent that the embattled Uchi was invited by the operatives of the Commission on Monday, upon a petition received by the anti-graft agency over Alleged properties he acquired in Abuja, Jos, Makurdi, Gboko and Wannune in Tarka, local government Area of Benue State amounting to over N6 billion.

According to the source, further investigations so far, has revealed that between December 2023 to date the anti-graft agency has been able to trace a whooping N1.6 billion that was allegedly used in buying purch cars through four new generations banks to nine car dealers in Abuja, Kaduna, Lagos, Jos and Makurdi respectively.

The source further added that two Bureau de change operatives are currently been investigated by the Commission, over their alleged involvement in the scam, owing that most of the funds credited to embattled Torhile Andrew Uchi, emanated from their coys.

He said that the Commission is currently working towards getting a court nod to widen the scope of their investigations to the properties in Abuja, Jos and other part of the country to ascertain the source of the income and how the properties were allegedly purchased.

As of the time of filing in this report Mr. Uchi, is still in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, telling the dreaded operatives of the Commission how he allegedly got the funds which is largely believed to be proceeds from bribes.

Efforts to reach the spokesman of the Commission, Mr Dele Oyewale, proved abortive as his phone lines was said to be switched off.

Continue Reading

News

Natasha suspended solely for unruly behaviour – Senate tells IPU

Published

on

The Nigerian Senate has formally responded to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s complaint to the United Nations Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), refuting allegations that her suspension was linked to claims of sexual harassment.

According to Vanguard, Senator Natasha had petitioned the global body, seeking intervention over what she described as an injustice against her.

However, in a letter signed by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate insisted that her six-month suspension was due to “gross misconduct and unruly behavior”, not allegations of sexual harassment or assault.

The letter, read by Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, stated:

“The authority of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria firmly refutes the deliberate misinformation and false narrative being circulated by certain media organisations regarding the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha-Akpoti-Uduaghan.”

It further emphasized that “Senator Uduaghan was suspended solely for her persistent act of misconduct and disregard for the Senate Standing Orders.”

Additionally, the Senate called for a thorough investigation into the allegations she raised against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, maintaining that all due procedures were followed before her suspension.

Senator Natasha, however, vowed to continue her fight against “injustice”. Meanwhile, Senate President Akpabio has denied the accusations, asserting that he has never assaulted any woman.

The dispute between the two lawmakers intensified on February 20, 2025, after Natasha’s seat was changed during plenary. Their tensions date back to July 2024, when Akpabio rebuked her for alleged misconduct, telling her the Senate was “not a nightclub where anybody can talk anyhow.” He later apologized for the remark.

Continue Reading

News

Gov Okpebholo recalls Edo Attorney General, Osagie, from suspension

Published

on

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has reinstated the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Samson Osagie, exactly 37 days after his suspension.

A letter addressed to Osagie by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Ikhilor, Esq., and marked SGA. 15/NOL.XV111/215, conveyed the governor’s directive. The letter, dated March 12, 2025, and released at 8:15 p.m., stated that an investigative panel had exonerated Osagie of alleged financial infractions.

The letter read: “Having considered the report of the Investigative Panel set up by Government to investigate allegations of financial infractions reported against you, which has exonerated you from the said allegations, I write to convey the directive of the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, that you resume duties as the State Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice with effect from 12th March, 2025.”

Reacting to his reinstatement, Osagie expressed appreciation for the governor’s leadership, describing the decision as a testament to Okpebholo’s sincerity and vision for Edo State.

“I appreciate his sincerity of purpose and vision for the state. This is a clear indication that His Excellency, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, means well for the state. I use this medium to reiterate my commitment and loyalty to him and his administration,” Osagie said.

He further pledged to support the governor in advancing Edo State, emphasizing his dedication to ensuring progress and recovery in the state’s governance.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2017 Zox News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by WordPress.