By Abimbola Joseph
CITIZENS COMPASS —The Joint National Transport Safety Committee of Nigeria (JNTCN) says it would collaborate with stakeholders in the transport sector towards reducing instances of cargoes, haulage and petro-gas trucks accidents in Nigeria.
Mr Taiwo Mogbojuri, National Chairman of the group disclosed this at a press conference organised by National Tripartite Transport Safety Council committee in Lagos on Monday.
He explained that the meeting became necessary to deliberate on how to mitigate incessant truck accidents and its implications on the economy.
“Over the years, Nigeria has witnessed incidents that have featured trucks tumbling over and spilling their contents” he said.
“Lives have been lost, limbs broken, vehicles destroyed and property destroyed”
“The recent tragic incident that occurred on Otedola bridge on June 28, 2018, in which 12 lives were lost, many injured and 55 vehicles lost to inferno,” he said.
He stressed that the committee has scheduled its forthcoming stakeholders’ general meeting with a theme “Implementation of Safe Trucks Transportation System in Nigeria’’in addition to the inaugural ceremony of the joint taskforce.
According to him, the root causes of truck accidents would also be identified and discussed to further adopt preventive measures especially in the Lagos axis.
Mogbojuri said the committee would also use the platform to interact with stakeholders especially to discuss and proffer solutions to major operational challenges that face the industry and the nation at large.
According to him, stakeholders expected to participate in the proposed meeting included, Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Nigeria Port Authority, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation among others.
“We wish to assure you that the Committee is ready to work with all stakeholders to drive and enhance good business practices and safety culture in the downstream sector and the Petroleum Industry as a whole.
“The forthcoming general meeting and Inauguration Ceremony has been planned to sharpen our regulatory initiatives to ensure better safety especially in the road haulage system across Nigeria.
