An aspirant for Edo Central Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Glory Oziegbe Momodu, has described the fuel tanker explosion that burnt about 86 persons to death in Niger State as a monumental disaster to the entire country.
He stated this on Wednesday in Benin, while mourning victims of the incident and also sympathising with the bereaved families.
Momodu who recalled that the Niger Delta had had its share of such disasters, called for enhanced security measures and preventive strategies to stop what he described as “avoidable and reckless loss of lives in the country.”
He, however, said that beyond the tears, measures must be in place to monitor the road-worthiness of fuel-laden tankers.
He added that tankers must undergo regular inspections and equipped with functional safety mechanisms to prevent leaks and fires before they are allowed to operate on the highways.
According to him, “Such maintenance standard must be strictly enforced without compromise before vehicles carrying highly inflammable substances like petroleum products are allowed to operate on our roads.”
Momodu also advised that tanker drivers must be made to undergo specialised trainings and equipped with emergency response procedures to minimise risks during accidents.
The senatorial aspirant who advocated regular public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on safe practices around fuel transport vehicles and the dangers of trying to scoop fuel from a fallen tanker, further called for the establishment of specific routes for fuel tankers in collaboration with transport agencies to stop such vehicles from plying densely populated areas.
“It is also high time we erected emergency response infrastructures. This can be done by equipping communities with fire stations and emergency response teams near major highways to address accidents swiftly.
“This tragic event reminds us of the urgent need to prioritise safety in our communities. Together, we can build a nation where such preventable tragedies are minimized,” he said.
Momodu is seeking the ticket of the APC to fill the vacant seat of Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, at the Senate.
