Lafarge Africa establishes academy for truck drivers

As part of its commitment to reduce the high level of reckless driving in Nigeria to the barest minimum, Lafarge Africa Plc has launched a logistics academy for truck drivers.

According to a statement by the firm, the academy is expected to expose truck drivers to the rudiments of safety culture and robust fleet management.

According to the Group Managing Director of the firm, Micheal Puchercos, the Logistics Academy was launched as a follow-up to the road safety project and drivers academy earlier established by the firm to ensure sound safety culture, process efficiency and good performance among truck drivers.

Speaking at launching of the Academy held in Ewekoro cement plant in Ogun state, the Group Managing Director, who was represented by the Director, Organisation and Human Resource, Fidelia Osime at the occassion, explained that the Academy was launched to improve the  health and safety culture of Lafarge Africa’s staff, contractors and the entire country.

He said, “Road transport safety is one of the focus of Lafarge Africa’s health and safety improvement plan in realisation that moving our products and materials on the road steps without accidents or incidents, is a major challenge.

“To address this, we have come up with a structured process of assessing our transporters, using tools such as GPS to monitor trucks, rewarding and applying consequences to driver behavior, while partnering with our transporters to have good maintenance and systems in place through drivers training and the Logistics Academy.”

He added that the Academy was a demonstration of our commitment to improve on operational performance, even as it strives for world-class standards.

Also speaking at the event, the Governor of  Ogun state,  Ibikunle Amosun explained that the establishment Academy of the academy was a right step in checking reckless driving  among truck drivers.

He pointed out that reckless attitude of truck drivers has caused loss of lives on Nigerian roads.

Amosun, who was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Adenrele Adeshina, assured that government would use the template and standard set by the cement company to design logistics programme for investors and business owners that engage in haulage of goods and materials in the state.

“Logistics is the critical element to a successful operations in the state like Ogun.”

The  Sector Commander,  Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), Adegoke Adetunji, pledged the federal government support to the scheme, adding that it would help reduce loss of lives on the roads to the barest minimum.