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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on Monday said economic loss worth N9.8 billion was lost in 196 traffic crashes recorded so far across the country in 2018.

The Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, stated this at the 2018 National Safety Training Programme for Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) in Lagos.

The training was organised by Lagos state branch of National Union of Petroleum and National Gas Workers (NUPENG).

Boboye said that the loss involved the cost of other vehicles, lives and damage to the environment and roads.

He, however, said that there was a slight reduction in the number of crashes recorded during the period, compared to previous years.

According to Boboye, the agency recorded 282 accidents involving tanker drivers in 2016 and 240 in 2017.

“We have an agreement with NUPENG PTD to organise periodic training programme for their drivers.

“This is very critical even though we have seen reduction in the traffic crashes involving tanker drivers.

“We have recorded 196 this year and the economic value is about N9.8 billion loss, involving cost of other vehicles, lives, damage to the environment and to the roads.

“NUPENG PTD is putting its best to set up capacity workshop for the tanker drivers. Once they finished in Lagos, the other programme will take place in Kaduna and Warri and this is very impressive.

“We are going to give our maximum support to NUPENG towards ensuring that the 4, 000 tanker drivers are fully trained,” he said.

The FRSC boss also urged the union to carry out more visual tests on drivers, saying that it had been discovered that 30 per cent of commercial vehicle drivers had visual acuity challenges.

“We encourage them on the visual acuity test. During the study carried out about three months ago, we discovered that 30 per cent of the commercial drivers experience vision acuity challenges.

“Wearing a pair of glasses is not a crime and will not result to loss of jobs but will improve their vision activity measure.’’

He observed that many of the people were hypertensive and with high sugar levels.

He said that it was important for NUPENG PTD to ensure periodic medical examination for its drivers to ensure road safety culture in the country.

Earlier, Mr Salmon Oniditi, the National Chairman of PTD, had said that 61 members had been expelled due to misconducts, including fraudulent activities.

According to him, those sanctioned will not be employed any longer in the industry because they pose danger to the progress of the union.

“The development is imperative as the union will not want to be tagged as one involved in economic sabotage.

“The offences vary from stealing of petroleum products, pipeline vandalism, product adulteration, petroleum products’ theft and illegal bunkering,’’ Oniditi said.

He added that others vices included hijack of truck, manhole manipulation, constant shortage, sales of petroleum product and replacing with bad ones.

He said the training which started three years ago had passed the test of time and equally led to reduction in accidents.

Oniditi said the union had been constantly educating the members on how their contemporaries in developed country operated.

He said that the union would also ensure the use of modern devices in motoring the members’ activities while on road, saying though, not a new method in most developed countries.

He commended FRSC for its involvement and support in the training since inception of the programme.

Oniditi urged members to always be professional in their activities and ensure that their quota contributed positively to national development.

He also condemned a common habit among drivers whereby they remove speedometers from the dashboard of their truck in order not to know their speed.

Besides, the PTD boss noted that the union would continue collaborating with the FRSC to ensure that petroleum tanker drivers did not become nuisance to the society.

The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes  Commission (EFCC) demanding urgent investigation of Engr Aliyu Ahmed Nahuce, General Manager of FCT Water Board for alleged financial crimes.

In letter dated September 10, 2018 and made available to Fasttract News in Abuja on Tuesday signed by the union general secretary comrade, Lekke Zambuk, AUPCTRE said that Nahuce has been awarding several contracts to his company Garisun Nigeria limited to supply materials and construction of water projects.

He said as responsible stakeholders in the public sector, it is the duty of union to report people with financial criminal tendencies and vital information that will help EFCC to performance it core mandate.

According to the document, the contracts are only conduit to fleece away public funds under the custody of the general manager, added that a search conducted by the corporate affair commission revealed that Nahuce and his family members are the owners and shareholders of the company.

Zambuk implored the commission to investigate the allegations to save the FCT water board from collapse and ensure public confidence in the sector, added that the union are ready to avail further information to aid the investigation when necessary.

He emphasized that the union have implicit confidence in EFCC’s ability to unearth these humongous corruption, abuse of office and economic crimes against the institution of government and members who are the first line victims of these crimes.

Read the full letter below:

Kwarans Marginalization: Your Statement Is False, Unpatriotic, Buhari’s Aide Tells Saraki

Mohammed Brimah, Special Assistant on IDPs to President Muhammadu Buhari, has condemned Senate President Bukola Saraki’s statement alleging that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), does not have the interest of Kwara and Kwarans in its agenda.

Saraki, while receiving defectors into the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in his home state had stated that “ever since I left the party (APC) as your representative at the National level, who among those calling themselves APC members in Kwara today have been included in any National affairs of APC?”

“If you ask those following them what they have benefited, aside fighting Saraki, nothing tangible will they be able to point at. Is that a party that Nigerians need at the moment?”

Responding to the claims, Brimah, at a meeting with members of the Kwara State Chapter of the All Progressives Youth Forum (APYF), in Abuja, debunked Saraki’s claim and described it as figment of his imagination.

Brimah, who also hails from Kwara State, explained that the Buhari-led administration has stood its ground in committing to youth inclusiveness and participation.

In his words: “President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has spent a total of ?4,105,372,257 in positively impacting the lives of both the young and old in Kwara State.

“The Buhari-led administration has also empowered over 14,000 Kwara youths through one of the Social Investment Programmes – Npower. Another 13,067 beneficiaries are currently benefiting from the Government Enterprise & Empowerment Programme (GEEP). Presently, 13,809 Kwarans are beneficiaries of National Cash Transfer Programme (NCTP).

“In few weeks, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) will be visiting Kwara state to launch the Trader Moni scheme for another set of 35,000 petty traders in Kwara State. These traders will be supported with loans to strengthen the federal government’s commitment to financial inclusion.”

“The presidential aide also enjoined the supporters of President Buhari in the state to always ignore the offensive speeches by Saraki, reminding them that he has shown that he is a very dangerous person who can go any length to promote his personal interests.

“One would think with the experience and position Saraki currently holds, he would managed to play the role of a nationalist and a statesman, but sadly, rather than protect the interest of Nigeria both locally and internationally, he has been at the forefront of frustrating the efforts of President Buhari to reposition the country and make things happen.

“Saraki’s ever failing integrity test and litany of corruption charges against him are now manifesting in his loyalists and aides,” Brimah said.

Recall that Saraki’s anointed candidate for the 2019 gubernatorial election in Kwara State, Hon Razak Atunwa, is already engulfed in in certificate forgery scandal. Report has it that the PDP’s governorship Candidate, Mr. Atunwa did not participate in Nigeria’s compulsory national youth service scheme (NYSC). Instead, he procured a forged discharge certificate of NYSC which he submitted to the PDP to prove his eligibility for public office.

Similarly, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Saraki’s aide, Gbenga Makanjuola, for an alleged fraud of N3.5bn. Also, documents revealed that Abiola Aiyegbayo, wife of Bamikole Omisore, Special Adviser on International Relations to Saraki, has been receiving monthly salaries of N151,788 from the Senate without rendering any service to the National Assembly.

Additionally, Saraki is having a running battle with the Nigerian Police over his alleged linkage to the wide-ranging robbery operation that resulted in the death of 33 people in Offa, Kwara State in April.

Brimah, in his closing remarks, urged the youths and support groups in the state to embark on an aggressive campaign for the APC and vote massively for all the party’s candidate in the 2019 general elections.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said the recurring killings in Kaduna State must stop and directed security agencies to hunt down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Buhari made the remarks in Kaduna where he went to commiserate with victims of the recent clashes in the state.

He said those who were used to going Scot free after such killings, must now answer for their crimes.

“The Federal Government will take strongest measures possible to punish perpetrators of these crimes. No one will go Scot free.

“We shall now hold everyone to account for these latest killings,’’ the president stressed.

Buhari who described the incidents as “unacceptable’’, said Kaduna must not earn itself a new name as “home of violence.’’

“My earnest appeal to all citizens of Kaduna is to do their best to uphold peace in their respective communities,’’ he said.

The president commended the state government for managing the crisis, and assured that his administration would recruit more security personnel and deploy them nationwide to protect citizens.

He also welcomes the pledge of the state and local governments to support the construction of more police and civil defence offices to enhance security at the grassroots.

Buhari appealed to all citizens to be law abiding, learn to listen to each other and resolve differences through peaceful means.

He also said that individuals and communities must respect the rights of others to live wherever they chose, worship freely and pursue lawful livelihood anywhere in this country.

Buhari said that the federal government is doing its best to develop human capital, tackle poverty and inequality in all parts of the country, as well as provide decent education and health.

While responding to an appeal by Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i, the president pledged to promptly look at the outstanding issue of compensation for victims of the 2011 post election violence in the state.

Earlier, El-Rufa’i, the state governor, had briefed the president on the security situation in the state and informed him that the state would henceforth enforce the 1915, 1917 and 1958 laws to hold communities where violence occur, fully responsible.

He said that the state government also plans to set up new police and military outposts in Kasuwan Magani, Narayi, Sabon Tasha and other flash points.

The governor appealed for the deployment of 30 additional judges to fast truck justice delivery in the state.

Also, the Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris commended the prompt action taken by the state government and security agencies to contain the crisis.

He urged all citizens to live in peace and shun religious and community leaders as well as individuals pushing them to violence.

The emir advised that all those found involved in the crisis as well as those promoting rumour be adequately punished.

He called for more dialogue among religions and communities to enhance peace in the state. (NAN)