Hold truck drivers responsible if violence erupts –Niger Govt.
*Warns Articulated vehicle Drivers over Indiscriminate parking*
Yahaya Zakka Minna
The Niger State Government has told the public to hold truck drivers responsible for any breach of peace for their failure to evacuate vehicles from lamabatta section of Minna and Bida roads in Niger state.
This is as it warned the drivers of the consequences of their indiscriminate parkings which have been causing heavy gridlock and risks to innocent commuters and the people of the communities.
A statement issued by Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane on Monday in Minna charged the Drivers to hasten the opening of the roads as the blockade would not compel the State Government into allowing them to use the Minna-Bida road which is a State-owned road and under reconstruction.
Ahmed Matane further appealed to owners of the vehicles to talk to their Drivers to remove their trucks and tankers from the roads as the State Government can no longer guarantee their safety, because communities affected as a result of the blockade are overstretched and agitated.
The SSG warned that the State Government would not take liability for damaged vehicles or goods as a result of any unfortunate incidence that may arise. In the event of any tanker carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) exploding and spilling the products within the communities, the tanker owners would be held responsible and affected communities will claim damages.
It would be recalled that the State Government had for more than three days engaged and dialogued with the articulated vehicle drivers and leadership of their unions to clear the roads and allow motorists to carry out their legitimate activities but such efforts has not yielded any positive results.
Meanwhile, the State Government regrets any inconveniences and untold hardship the blockade of the roads might have caused to innocent citizens and called for understanding and support of the general public in this trying moments.
