By Victor Ahiuma-Young

LEADERS of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, branch of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, have commenced a training programme for no fewer than 4,500 members, to check accidents on highways and save innocent lives.

National Chairman of PTD, Alhaji Salimon Oladiti, at the beginning of the National Safety Training Programme in Lagos, said such training of members was a very critical aspect of the union’s goals.

Oladiti, who was represented by Lagos Zonal Deputy Chairman of PTD, Mr Omogbolahan Adigun, said the training was taking place simultaneously in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna zones of the union.

While explaining that 100 tanker drivers would be trained by resource persons three times a week for the next five weeks, the chairman said 1,500 tanker drivers would be trained in Lagos zone while 1,000 drivers each would be trained in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri zones, making 4,500 altogether.

According to him: “Many drivers are involved in road accidents due to lack of training; we are training them to reduce accidents on our roads. I am pleased today and can boldly say that our efforts in 2016 have not been in vain.”