Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has sensitised tanker drivers and filling stations on prevention of tanker fire outbreaks, while cautioning tanker drivers against speeding within roads in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states.
The Director-General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, gave the advice on Friday during a One-Day Awareness Campaign and Sensitisation on Tanker Fire Accidents and Fire Outbreaks held in Enugu.
Represented by the NEMA Head of Operations in Enugu, Mrs Ngozi Echeazu, the director-general urged Nigerians to stop scooping fuel in a fallen petroleum tanker and “stay clear from such a scene to ensure safety.”
“Please when anyone sees a scene of accident or disaster, if it is safe, join in the rescue of Nigerians and not filming, not making video content or recording scene with your phones while people need your help.
“I urge road users to be sober and be safety concious while on the road. Tanker and articulated drivers should aviod alcohol and intoxicating substances, endeavour to maintain your vehicles and have enough sleep and rest before embarking on a long journey.
“Please ensure that the brake and lighting systems of your tanker or truck are working optimally and avoid wore out or retreaded tyres before embarking on journeys,” she pleaded.
The director-general also condoled with families and friends of victims of tanker fire explosion within the South-East especially that of Ugwuonyema axis of Enugu-Onitsha Dual Carriageway early this year.
“I visited the spot of the incident, saw first hand the devastation, visited surviving victims in hospitals and ensured that relief materials were given to families of victims. However, after that incident and similar others, NEMA said the trend must stop,” she said.
Speaking, Chief Chinedu Anyaso, the Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Enugu Depot Unit, said that fuel tanker accidents and fire outbreaks could be contained when drivers’ union work together and deploy regular training and retraining of drivers.
Anyaso, who was represented by the Secretary of the association, Chief Nnaemeka Iloafor, commended NEMA for taking up sensitisation against tanker accidents, adding that IPMAN would continue to support NEMA in its efforts to reduce disasters on the road.
“IPMAN is an association with the principle of safety first and in all our weekly meetings and fora we impress it on our members and drivers managing their tanker fleets never to compromise on safety standards,” the chairman said.
Corroborating, Rev. Boniface Okafor, First Deputy Chairman of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Enugu Zonal Unit, appreciated NEMA for the sensitisation, while calling on the Federal and State governments to fix deplorable roads that remained a contributory factor to tanker accidents.
“Many have gone ever among our members. The union within the past six months had fashioned out internal mechanism to check and ensure that tankers not road worthy do not ply the roads and check the negative trend,” he said.
The Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Enugu State, Mr Franklin Agbakoba, noted that 90 per cent of accidents on the road are caused by human error or human negligence, adding that tanker drivers should “stop managing mechanical faults in their vehicles.”
Agbakoba, who was represented by Chief Route Commander, Okine Ugwube, urged tanker drivers not to joke with the routine check of their vehicles and ensure prompt repairs of mechanical and electrical faults of their tanker or articulated vehicles.
The Deputy Controller Fire service in Enugu State, Mr Godwin Ezeora, urged tanker drivers to always have functional fire extinguishers and take courage to use it when the fire remained at its formative stage, while calling the nearest fire service for help.
