By Saidu Idris
365Daily – Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has ordered the immediate reopening of Abuja-Lokoja-Lagos highway blocked by tanker drivers since Monday.
Bello gave the order on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, in Lokoja through his Special Adviser on Security Matters, Mr Omodara Jerry.
Tanker drivers blocked the highway on Monday night, according to NAN, following the alleged death of one of their colleagues who refused to stop for check at a military point around Jamata, close to Murtala Mohammed Bridge.
The tanker driver reportedly refused to stop when flagged down at the military checkpoint and was chased by the security personnel.
He finally stopped his vehicle on noticing that he was being chased, and in an attempt to run into the bush, fell into a ditch and was seriously injured.
He was rushed to hospital for medical attention but later died.
Whike expressing sadness over the death, Gov. Bello condemned the action of the tanker drivers’ union, saying there were better ways of channelling their grievances.
He said the Abuja-Lokoja-Lagos highway is a critical road and its continued blockade was detrimental to businesses and to the lives of the people.
“The Guards Commander and his men are already on their way to ensure fruitful dialogue with the aggrieved tanker drivers for the possible reopening of the highway.
“This blockade has affected businesses of Nigerians and might endanger some people with critical health issues. Imagine if an expectant mother falls into labour in the resultant gridlock.
“Blocking the highway is not the best way to handle issues.
“Where you are aggrieved in one way or the other, you must look at what the provisions of the law say so that you don’t take the law into your hands,’’ he said.
Speaking further, he advised security agents to always exercise caution in handling issues in order not to create crisis.
NAN reports that officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission and other security personnel were still battling to pacify the drivers to remove the blockade as at the time of this report.