The United Truck and Trailer Drivers Welfare Association (UTTDWA) has officially commissioned its National Secretariat and Operational Headquarters in Gwagwalada, Abuja, pledging to promote discipline, improve drivers’ welfare and enhance safety on Nigerian roads.
The commissioning ceremony, held on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at No. 198, Kaduna-Lokoja Expressway, Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), attracted representatives of sister transport unions, truck and trailer drivers, security agencies and members of the media.
Speaking at the event, the National President of UTTDWA, Comrade Godfrey Omonfomhan, described the opening of the secretariat as a new beginning for truck and trailer drivers in Nigeria.
He said the facility represented more than an administrative office, describing it as a centre for discipline, road safety, drivers’ welfare and reform within the heavy-duty transportation sector.
“Today is not just about opening an office. Today, we are opening a house of discipline, safety, and welfare,” Omonfomhan said.
He noted that truck and trailer drivers had often been perceived as contributing to road safety challenges, adding that the association was determined to change that perception through professional training, accountability and responsible driving.
According to him, Gwagwalada was selected as the operational base because of its strategic location along a major transportation corridor connecting different parts of the country.
“We chose Gwagwalada because this is the gateway to the north and to the south, and the heart of heavy-duty vehicle movement in Nigeria,” he said.
Omonfomhan explained that the new secretariat would serve as a centre for driver profiling and training verification, helping the association strengthen professional standards among its members.
UTTDWA PLEDGES ZERO TOLERANCE FOR UNTRAINED DRIVERS, OVERLOADING
The UTTDWA president outlined several commitments aimed at improving road safety and promoting responsible conduct among truck and trailer operators.
He pledged that the association would intensify drivers’ training, discourage drug and alcohol abuse, and tackle overloading, while strengthening cooperation with relevant government agencies.
“Our promise from this office is more training. No untrained driver will drive a truck, no more drug abuse, alcohol and overloading, and full cooperation with the Federal Road Safety Corps, Police and DSS,” he declared.
He said the commitments were part of the association’s broader efforts to ensure that truck and trailer drivers operate responsibly and contribute to safer roads across Nigeria.
PRESIDENT COMMENDS SECURITY AGENCIES
Omonfomhan also commended Nigeria’s security and emergency response agencies for their contributions to road safety, law enforcement and the protection of the transportation sector.
He acknowledged the roles of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Federal Fire Service in maintaining security, enforcing traffic regulations, preventing accidents and responding to emergencies.
He stressed that effective transportation was essential to economic growth, noting that collaboration between transport operators and security agencies remained crucial to the movement of goods and services across the country.
“Without you, there is no transport, there is no economy,” he said.
The president also acknowledged government officials and leaders of transport unions whose offices and organisations were recognised during the ceremony.
ASSOCIATION REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO DRIVERS’ WELFARE
In his vote of thanks, the National Secretary of UTTDWA, Linus Umahi, expressed appreciation to the sister unions, truckers, drivers, security representatives and other guests who attended the commissioning.
Umahi said the large turnout demonstrated the importance of cooperation among transport stakeholders in addressing challenges affecting drivers and road users.
He reiterated the association’s commitment to placing drivers’ welfare at the centre of its activities while promoting discipline and cooperation with government institutions.
“It is our statement that drivers’ welfare matters, that sanity and discipline must return to our roads, and from today UTTDWA will work more closely with the government to make Nigerian roads safe,” Umahi said.
He added that the new national secretariat would strengthen the association’s administrative operations and provide a platform for deeper engagement with government agencies and other stakeholders in the transportation industry.
The commissioning marks a significant milestone for UTTDWA as it seeks to improve the welfare of truck and trailer drivers, promote professional standards and contribute to safer road transportation across Nigeria.
