Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has once again emphasised the need for strict enforcement of anti-spill locks on fuel tankers nationwide, stating that disasters resulting from tanker spills have become alarmingly frequent.
Mbah reiterated this call on Tuesday during a meeting with the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, and her team, who were in Enugu to commence the distribution of emergency relief items to victims of the tanker fire that occurred on Saturday, resulting in numerous fatalities and extensive damage to vehicles and goods at Ugwu Onyeama along the Enugu-Onitsha federal highway.
“As I mentioned during my visit to the site, there are disasters that we cannot predict or foresee; when they occur, we activate all the response mechanisms we have in place.
“However, the issue of tanker fires and explosions is becoming increasingly prevalent, and I urge law enforcement agencies, especially the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), to enforce the installation of anti-spill locks. If tankers transporting flammable substances such as petrol and automotive gas oil were fitted with these locks, we could significantly mitigate such disasters. Even if a tanker were to overturn, without a spill, the risk of ignition would be reduced. The tragic events in Enugu were a direct result of petrol spilling onto other vehicles, which subsequently ignited.
“Once again, I implore law enforcement agencies to ensure the rigorous enforcement of anti-spill locks on all petroleum product tankers. It is critically important,” he asserted.
The governor added that his administration is doing everything possible to guarantee that survivors receive adequate medical treatment, noting that the government will cover all medical expenses.
“We are responsible for those receiving care at the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Enugu, the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), and the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Hospital at Park Lane. We are taking care of their bills,” he stated.
He expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and NEMA for their compassion, condolences, and swift response to this unfortunate incident.
“We are deeply appreciative of the support you have provided, which exemplifies the partnership between the federal government and state governments in addressing this situation. We have ensured the necessary logistics to deliver relief items to those most in need,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Umar, while expressing condolences to the government and people of Enugu State over the tragic incident, commended Governor Mbah for his leadership during the crisis.
“I wish to commend you for your prompt visit to the scene and the decisive actions taken, including ensuring that survivors receive optimal medical attention.
“Today’s launch of relief assistance for the victims of the tanker fire is a result of the collaborative initiative NEMA has implemented to support at-risk populations. It is the shared responsibility of all levels of government to assist disaster victims; thus, NEMA is complementing the efforts of the state government,” she stated.
She announced the donation of relief supplies, including 200 bags of rice (25kg each), 200 cartons of spaghetti, 20 cartons of five-litre vegetable oil, 20 cartons of seasoning, and 20 cartons of tomato paste, in addition to medical supplies for those affected by the tanker fire explosion in Enugu State.
The Director-General also echoed concerns regarding the rising incidence of tanker fires across the country.
“The growing number of tanker fire explosions throughout Nigeria is not only devastating but also hinders the progress and economic development of our communities. Such incidents have a detrimental impact on lives, property, and the environment, and pose a significant threat to our developmental efforts,” the DG concluded.
