Total embarks on truck drivers training to improve safety on road

By Ambrose Nnaji

Total Nigeria Plc (TNPLC) has embarked on Truck Drivers’ training and audits Initiative to improve road safety in Nigeria. This is coming after a serious thought about the state of trucks and drivers conveying petroleum products on Nigerian roads.

At a conference held online with the media, the company disclosed that it had already conducted 2,181 Truck driver trainings, 2,740 truck audits at its training facility in Ibadan, Oyo State between 2017 and 2020. Again, it has also helped other players in the industry to conduct 2,149 truck audits between 2018 and 2020.

The company noted that the effort had resulted in zero fatalities and severe accidents, zero lost time injury and zero spill in cubic metres, amongst Total Nigeria Plc drivers since 2017. According to the company, the training has ensured “Improved defensive driving skills; Reduction of road accidents caused by driver behaviour and truck breakdown; Handling of dangerous goods during transportation and public enlightenment on road safety topics; and Government regulatory agencies’ campaigns.”

Popoola-Mordi

The Executive General Manager of the company, Bunmi Popoola-Mordi, who revealed that the company had contributed immensely in the area of road safety stated that there was need to not only highlight the contributions but to inform and spur stakeholders in order to get feedback for continuous improvement.

Fielding questions on the Truck Drivers Initiative, the General Manager, HSEQ Mr. Muhyideen Nuradeen, stated that though the company was in the business of making profit, it was more interested in saving lives; making the roads as safe as possible and making sure drivers return safely to their families and loved ones at the end of each business day.

He disclosed that its stakeholders including Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) were being involved in the initiative.

In his remarks, the Country Communication Manager, Dr. Charles Ebereonwu who moderated the session expressed optimism that the initiative would progress to a level where the country would achieve a critical mass of trained, professional drivers and quality trucks to eliminate road safety hazards associated with trucking petroleum products.