UTTDWA Commissions National Secretariat In Abuja, Declares War On Untrained Drivers, Drug Abuse On Nigerian Highways

The United Truck and Trailer Drivers Welfare Association, UTTDWA, on Wednesday, October 29, 2026, officially commissioned its National Secretariat and Operational Headquarters in Abuja.

The historic event took place at No. 198, Kaduna-Lokoja Expressway, Gwagwalada, FCT, Abuja, with leaders of sister transport unions, truckers, trailer drivers, security agencies and members of the press in attendance.

Delivering the opening address, the National President of UTTDWA, Comrade Godfrey Omonfomhan, formally welcomed guests and declared the commissioning as a new dawn for truck and trailer drivers in Nigeria.

“You are highly welcome to this great occasion. I am Godfrey Omonfomhan, the common president of the United Truck and Trailer Drivers Welfare Association,” Omonfomhan said.

Observing all protocols, he acknowledged the Honourable Minister of Works, the Honourable Minister of Transportation, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, and leaders of NURTW and other sister unions.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the National Executive Council, I welcome you all to this historic occasion, the official opening of our National Secretariat and Operational Headquarters at No. 198 Kaduna-Lokoja Express Highway, Gwagwalada, FCT, Abuja,” he stated.

Comrade Omonfomhan said the new office is more than a building, but a house of discipline and reform.

“While we are here, today is not just about opening an office. Today, we are opening a house of discipline, safety, and welfare,” he said.

“For years, truck and trailer drivers have been seen as a problem on the road. UTTDWA is here to change that narrative,” he added.

He explained why Gwagwalada was chosen as the operational base.

“We choose Gwagwalada because this is the gateway to the north and to the south, and the heart of the heavy duty vehicle movement in Nigeria. This office will be a center for driver profiling and training verification,” Omonfomhan said.

The President also commended Nigeria’s security architecture for sustaining the transport sector.

“We want to sincerely thank the security architecture of this country, the Nigerian Army for securing, the Nigerian Police Force for maintaining law and order, the DSS for the intelligence and security guidance, the Federal Road Safety Corps for saving lives daily on our roads, and the Federal Fire Service for always responding to tanker accidents,” he said.

“Without you, there is no transport, there is no economy,” he emphasized.

He concluded with a strong commitment to reform from the new secretariat.

“Our promise from this office at number 198, we promise number one, more training. No untrained driver will drive a truck, no more drug abuse, alcohol and overloading, and full cooperation with Federal Road Safety Corps, Police and DSS,” Omonfomhan vowed.

Giving the vote of thanks to close the ceremony, the National Secretary of the association, Linus Umahi, expressed deep appreciation to all guests who honoured the invitation.

“We are very grateful to all sister unions, truckers and drivers who left their parts to be here today,” Linus Umahi said.

“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 Nigeria roads safe,” Umahi declared.

Umahi noted that the association’s message is clear: driver welfare will no longer be treated as secondary, and the new secretariat will drive its collaboration with government to make Nigerian roads safer for all.