Gov Mbah Proffers Solution to Frequent Fuel Tanker Explosions

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has called for the enforcement of anti-spill locks on petrol tankers to prevent frequent tanker explosions across Nigeria. The governor made this recommendation on Tuesday while receiving the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, and her team at the Government House in Enugu.

Nigeria has witnessed a surge in petrol tanker explosions, with recent incidents causing significant loss of lives and property. On Saturday, a tanker explosion at the Ugwu Onyeama section of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) later confirmed that 18 people died in the incident. Just a week earlier, another tanker explosion in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State claimed over 70 lives. Another petrol-laden tanker exploded on Monday in a town bordering Agaie and Lapai Local Government Areas of the same state. In response to these incidents, President Bola Tinubu directed the FRSC and relevant agencies to implement measures aimed at preventing further tragedies.

During the meeting with NEMA officials, who were in Enugu to distribute relief materials to survivors of the Ugwu Onyeama explosion, Governor Mbah explained how anti-spill locks could mitigate such disasters. He emphasized that while some disasters are unavoidable, certain preventive measures could significantly reduce their occurrence. According to him, if tankers transporting petrol and automotive gas oil were equipped with anti-spill locks, fuel leakage during accidents would be prevented, reducing the risk of explosions. He reiterated his call for strict enforcement of the safety measure, stressing its critical importance in protecting lives and property.

Governor Mbah assured that his administration was committed to providing medical care for the survivors of the explosion, covering their hospital bills at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu; the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital; and the Enugu State University of Science and Technology Hospital, Park Lane. He expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and NEMA for their swift response and support, highlighting the need for continued collaboration between the federal and state governments in managing disasters.

NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar commiserated with the people of Enugu State over the tragic explosion, noting that the increasing number of tanker fires posed a significant threat to lives, property, and economic development. She commended Governor Mbah for his swift response to the disaster and assured that NEMA was working alongside the state government to support the victims.

As part of relief efforts, NEMA announced the donation of various essential items, including 200 bags of rice, 200 cartons of spaghetti, 20 cartons of five-litre vegetable oil, and medical supplies, among others. Mrs. Umar emphasized that disaster response required collective action from all levels of government and reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to providing support for affected communities.