The National Lorry Drivers Association (NILODA), has pledged its readiness to partner the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Federal Ministry of Tansport and other relevant agencies to regulate their activities.
The President General of the Association, Mr. Eze-Okoye Chimebere, stated this in Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra state after he was elected together with other executives.
He said the partnership was necessary to ensure the association operated within the ambits of the law, stressing that sanity and discipline must prevail among members in carrying out their activities across the country.
He assured that complaints of inhuman treatments by lorry drivers on the highways would not be tolerated under his administration.
“There is a need for sanity and orderliness to prevail within the lorry industry in order to correct some erroneous impression about lorry drivers and their operations.
“With the new leadership under my watch, after 13 solid years of power tussle on who becomes the head of the association, the perceived inhuman treatment complaint about the lorry drivers on the highways would be totally wiped out,” he said.
Expressing satisfaction over the outcome of the election, Chimebere also hailed the former President-General, Eze Amadi Azuogu, the Board of Trustees members and other individuals and organizations for their interventions in restoring peace to the association.
He however urged President Mohammadu Buhari to intensify actions against insurgency in the Nort, regretting that the situation had affected his members and their means of livelihood.
Counsel to the association, Bar. E.C Ezemuari (Esq), while swearing in the new executives, urged them to work in unison and to be apolitical in discharging their duties.
He also challenged them to device legitimate means of generating more revenue for the government.
“The success of one is the success of all, you all should avoid backbiting among each other so as not to allow intruder to come into your midst and work in unison for betterment of your members and the
country at large,” he added.
On his part, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Eze Peter Okpala, listed promotion of unity among the lorry drivers, abolision of the multiple ticketing and sale of the unified revenue tickets for their members to generate more revenues for the government as part of the reasons for the existence of the body.
He appealed to the 36 states government and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, to stop the habit of collecting multiple taxes and levies from members of the Association.
The election which took place at the Committee of Father’s Club hall Oyeolisah market Ogbunike, has in attendance, delegates across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The new executives is headed by Mr. Eze-Okoye Chimebere, as President-General and his cabinet members including Alh. Hamza Assakio, as Vice, Mr. Peter Nwoba, National Financial Secretary, Chief Titus Obiligbo, National Treasurer.
Others are Mr. Charles Edward, National Secretary, Mr. Sunday Ekesoba, Assistant National Secretary, Mr. Calitus, Provost and Hon. Isiah Okalepu, as Public Relations Officer.
