Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Anambra State Command, Maku Olatunde, has cautioned citizens in Anambra State to refrain from scooping Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly referred to as fuel, from overturned petrol tanker trucks.
Commandant Maku stated this on Sunday 19th of January 2025, during his tactical digest meeting with supervisory officers at the State Command Headquarters, Awka.
The warning came on the heels of a tragic tanker explosion that occurred at Dikko Junction, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State that claimed several lives and left many others injured.
The commandant described the incident as devastating, noting that most of the casualties recorded were individuals attempting to collect Premium Motor Spirit( PMS) from the overturned fuel- laden tanker.
Maku emphasised the importance of prioritising safety and avoiding reckless behaviour that can lead to loss of lives and property. He urged the public to exercise caution and restraint in the face of such incidents, allowing relevant government safety and emergency management agencies to handle the situation.
He directed the Disaster Management Unit of the command to collaborate with relevant agencies to carry out sensitisation campaigns to educate Nigerians on the danger of scooping fuel from collapsed petrol tankers as part of the NSCDC effort to promote public safety and awareness.
Meanwhile, the command’s head of Media and Tactical Ops, SC Okadigbo Edwin, said the State Commandant has ordered Anti-Vandalism Squad of the command to work closely with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG ), the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria ( IPMAN), Petroleum Tanker Drivers ( PTD) and other key stakeholders in the petroleum sector to avoid such ugly incident in Anambra State.
