We don’t have N200,000 to bribe security agents to access Apapa - NUPENG

By Dapo Olawuni

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has said that its tanker drivers do not pay bribes to security agents before they can access Apapa port area to load petroleum products.

The union also denied that security agencies were collecting as much as N200,000 and N150,000 from tanker drivers in order to allow them block the access road with their trucks.

Chairman of NUPENG, Lagos Zone, Mr Tayo Aboyeji, denied the bribe allegation, saying that its members do not offer anyone bribe to allow them park their vehicles or move on the road.

The union leader also exonerated his members from bribe giving allegations, saying that tanker drivers do not bribe security agents before they can access tank farms in Apapa.

This is even as the Nigerian Navy has also defended its officers, saying that allegations of bribe taking, which has been reported against its officers was all false.

, “The allegation that our members bribe law enforcement agents with N150,000 to N200,000 is not true. Where do we get such money to bribe?

“The NUPENG tanker drivers or owners do not give bribe to anybody to allow their tankers block the highway. Any tanker you see on the Apapa axis is on its way to load. And due to the activities of other trucks laden with containers on that road, our members’ vehicles usually get stuck too.”

Speaking in the same vain, the Nigerian Navy denied claims that its personnel are involved in bribe taking from tanker drivers at Apapa, adding that it has “complied fully with the Presidential directive.”

The Navy Director of Information, Commodore Suleman Dahun, told one of our correspondents that the public should come forward with evidence if such existed.

He said, “I have to tell you this; we have complied fully with the Federal Government’s directive that we should withdraw from traffic management in the Apapa area. It (bribery) is not true and if you have evidence of our boys engaging in any illegal activity, please forward it to us. It is not good for anyone to wake up and concoct lies against the Navy

“I have spoken with the Western Naval Command and they confirmed to me that we have complied fully with the government’s directive. It is a false allegation.” he said