Count us out of tanker drivers strike - Navy


The Nigerian Navy Monday described as “absolute misinformation” any insinuation that it directly or indirectly contributed to the strike action embarked upon by Tanker drivers in Lagos State.

Director of Naval Information (DINFO), Commodore David Nabaida challenged anyone with evidence of the involvement of its personnel in any “unwholesome act” to come up with it.

An official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had early in the day said the Tanker drivers in Lagos State went on strike to protest alleged “extortion” by some personnel of the Navy.”

Commodore Nabaida told defencereportsng.com that the only activity it is part of that indirectly affect the tanker drivers is its participation in the Inter-Ministerial Task Force headed by the Ministry of Transport and the other by the Lagos State Sanitation Management Agency (LASSMA).

According to the DINFO, “the issue of congestion of the roads by the tanker drivers especially the roads leading to and from the Tin Can and Apapa sea ports was a major problem in Lagos. The Lagos State government has done all it could to sanitise the situation. The Federal Government then set up the Inter-Ministerial Task Force headed by the Ministry of Transport. The Committee gave the Navy the mandate to clear the roads to the ports. This, we carried out dutifully. You can compare the situation before and now along the Apapa major road.

“But instead of the tanker drivers moving to the depot build by the Lagos State government for its use, they relocated to the Alausa area. For LASSMA, this should not be allowed. So, they moved in to stop them from parking in an area not designated for them. What has the Navy got to do with this?

“So, for anybody to say the Navy is out there to extort money is a gross misrepresentation. It is not fair for us to be there doing what the Federal Government sent us to do and people turn around to accuse us of being the reason for fuel lines in Lagos. It is not fair. Please, if anyone has a record or evidence of any of our personnel involved in any unwholesome act, we would want to see the information. And we will act accordingly if it comes to our attention.

“Our job was to clear the roads of all tanker drivers blocking the free flow of traffic. We carried out that duty conscientiously. But instead of the tanker drivers parking at the designated depot, they moved their tankers to Alausa. And when LASSMA wanted to clear the area, they embarked on strike. Now, they are alleging that they are being extorted by the Navy. How? There is no truth to it. This is deliberate falsehood.”