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STAKE HOLDERS FORUM SET AGENDA FOR HAULAGE OPERATORS IN NIGERIA

The federal Government through the office of the Secretary to the Government of Federation called a meeting of relevant stakeholders on haulage business on Monday 9 July 2018 at the SGF’s office in Abuja, to tackle the spate of road crashes.

All critical stakeholders from private sector and government organizations were present. Those who attended were the Chairman Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-governmental Affairs, Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transportation, Chairman House Committee on Road safety, Chairman House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and the Corps Marshal of FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi PHD.

Others in attendance according to Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Enlightenment Officer of FRSC, were representative of the Inspector General Of police, heads of various transport related agencies, transport unions and petroleum Industry.

A plan of action to address the menace and binding on all members were adopted. At the session it was resolved that mandatory certification be carried out twice in twelve calendar months, and importation of haulage vehicles exceeding 10 years from the date of manufacture would be stopped with effect from 1 January 2020. It resolved that standard speed limiters be installed on all haulage vehicles, while trailers without safety valves and the required number plates would henceforth be disallowed from loading.

Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), FRSC and other relevant agencies should immediately harmonize operating safety requirements at all tank farms to ensure the continuation of “the safe to load programme’’ at all loading points. There would be periodic checks at the loading points while payment of National transport allowance (NTA) and bridging claims to operators would henceforth be contingent on compliance to minimum safety standards.

The forum resolved that single operators of haulage vehicles be duly registered with National Road Transport Owners Association and must comply with the provisions of road transport safety standardization scheme (RTSSS). Furthermore, FRSC should establish appropriate command and control centers to monitor and ensure safety on loading points and rest areas.

Federal Government will work with bank of industry and financial institutions to establish fleet acquisition renewal schemes for haulage operators. There would also be bi-annual meetings of all stakeholders.

SOURCE: BISI KAZEEM

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