By Adedapo Adesanya
As part of growing concern about truck accidents, especially involving drivers conveying petroleum products on Nigerian roads, Total Nigeria Plc highlighted how its Truck Drivers’ Initiative is improving road safety in the country.
The company disclosed that it had conducted training for 2,181 truck drivers as well as carrying out 2,740 truck audits at its training facility in Ibadan, Oyo State, between 2017 and 2020.
It also revealed that it has helped other players to conduct 2,149 truck audits between 2018 and 2020.
The company noted that the effort had resulted in zero fatalities, prevention of severe accidents, zero lost time injury and zero spills in cubic metres, amongst Total Nigeria Plc drivers since 2017.
It noted that 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.”
Speaking on the campaign, the Executive General Manager, Total Country Services, Mrs Bunmi Popoola-Mordi, noted that one of the areas that the company had been contributing enormously in the country was in road safety.
According to her, there was a need to not only highlight the contributions but to inform and galvanise stakeholders in order to get feedback for continuous improvement.
On his part, the General Manager, HSEQ, Total Nigeria Mr Muhyideen Nuradeen, maintained that while the company was in the business of making a 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.
The company explained that its stakeholders, including the 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.
Adding his input, the Country Communication Manager, Mr 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.
Aduragbemi Omiyale 
Modupe Gbadeyanka