Tanker Explosion: Minister Seeks Wider Community Sensitisation to Curb Deaths 

Nigerian Governors have been called upon to collaborate with the country’s Ministry of Petroleum Resources in widening community enlightenment campaigns on the effects of scooping petroleum products in the event of a Tanker accident.

The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri made the call in Dutse Jigawa State North West Nigeria, when he paid a condolence visit to Governor Umar Namadi at Government House, over the petrol Tanker Explosion which claimed over 100 lives.

He identified intense community engagements with locals as critical in avoiding any petrol Tanker involved in an accident and its products.

The Minister said the local community must understand the dangers of inflammatory products such as petrol and learn to avoid them during accidents on highways.

He noted that collaboration with state Governors will greatly help in sensitising Nigerians to avoid scooping products of an accident.

The Minister said the government will take measures to curtail such incidents right from Depots to final destinations.

He said, “Government is taking steps to ensure that such don’t happen again. 

We are deploying policies right from depots so that trucks that will convey products will be certified and only vehicles that are certified worthy will be allowed to convey products to different parts of the country.”

Lokpobiri, while condoling the Government and people of Jigawa State described the fire incident as unfortunate and prayed for their repose.

“Let me use this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians that anywhere they see this quantum of products they report to the nearest police station or security agencies to condone the areas to prevent people from going to endanger their lives.”

Also, the Chief Executive of Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regularly Authority NMDPRA Mr. Farouk Ahmad called on Nigerians to avoid going to the accident scene of petroleum Tankers due to its dangers.

Responding, the Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi while thanking the Petroleum Minister for the visit announced that, the death toll from the petrol Tanker Explosion has risen to 170 with more than 60 in various hospitals.

He expressed the readiness to collaborate with the Ministry of Petroleum in providing measures to avert future occurrences.

Governor Namadi called on the Minister to collaborate with the National Association of Road Transport Owners NARTO who during their visits to the state advocated for better strategies in tackling the petrol Tanker Explosion during accidents.

The Governor thanked President Tinubu for his concern for the people of the state during the time of the accident.

The petroleum Minister and his entourage took time to visit the accident scene in Majia village and the mass grave site.

Dominica Nwabufo