Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has emphasized the importance of using certified drivers to transport petroleum products, following the devastating petrol tanker explosion in Jigawa State.
The Minister’s call comes after a petrol tanker exploded in Majiya Town, Taura Local Government Area, resulting in loss of over 100 lives and injuries.
Lokpobiri who visited the incident site and met with Governor Malam Umar Namadi in Dutse, to sympathize with him on the loss, called for enhanced safety protocols to prevent future incidents.
To prevent future occurrences, the Minister stressed the need for stricter safety measures, particularly in ensuring only licensed and certified tanker drivers handle petroleum products.
“In my recent engagement with the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Mr. Shehu Mohammed, I called for a partnership between NMDPRA and FRSC to ensure that only licensed and certified tanker drivers are entrusted with the transportation of petroleum products, to prevent future occurrences of such tragedies.”
The Minister also cautioned Nigerians against approaching accident scenes, emphasizing the risks to their lives.
“I urged Nigerians to resist the temptation to approach scenes of such accidents, as it can endanger lives,” he warned.
Lokpobiri reassured that his ministry is committed to implementing stringent safety measures.
“We are committed to implementing robust safety measures, including the NMDPRA-FRSC collaboration, to protect Nigerians from similar incidents in the future,” he assured.
