The Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers confirmed Comrade Mathias Ote as the substantive national chairman of the PTD branch. The appointment was approved during the Quarterly National Executive Council meeting held in Warri, Delta State over the weekend. In the same session, the union warned its members to avoid operating tanker trucks after dark, citing safety concerns. No further details on the cautionary measures or the duration of Ote's term were disclosed.
Mathias Ote's elevation to national chairman comes at a time when the PTD‑NUPENG is actively addressing operational safety, signalling a shift toward stricter risk management within the sector. By coupling his appointment with a direct admonition against night driving, the union is sending a clear message that leadership will prioritize the welfare of drivers over traditional scheduling practices.
The prohibition on night trips could reshape daily routines for hundreds of tanker drivers who rely on after‑hours routes to meet delivery deadlines. Those operating in remote or congested corridors may face reduced earnings or need to renegotiate contracts to accommodate daylight-only schedules, potentially prompting a broader review of logistics across the petroleum supply chain.
This stance mirrors a growing trend among Nigerian labour unions to embed safety protocols into their core agendas, reflecting heightened awareness of occupational hazards and a willingness to challenge entrenched operational norms.
