BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

Residents and Lagos state government have expressed concern over security risks posed by the  petroleum tankers frequent accidents with attendant loss of lives and properties in the state.

In the last week, according to sources, the state Fire and Safety Services responded to at least six distress calls concerning fallen takers, filled with 33, litres of Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise called petrol, in different parts of the state.

It will be recalled that a New Year tragedy occurred last Tuesday night when a petroleum tanker, fully loaded with PMS, exploded and killed no fewer than 15 people and burnt several vehicles at Berger Suya, along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

Earlier in the week, there were two reported cases of tankers that overturned and spilled their contents on the road but did not explode.

A day after the Apapa Oshodi Expressway explosion, there were two other recorded tanker accidents, which though did not result into explosion following the quick intervention of fire services and traffic managers. One of the tankers fell at Iju-Ishaga, in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area, and the other tanker fell at Ajasa Command, in Agbado Oke Odo Local Council Development Area, LCDA.

Mr Jerry Stephen, a Lagos businessman, accused the Federal Government of not doing the needful in the production and distribution of petroleum products in the country despite the huge income from the oil sector.

Tanker

explosions

“We, concerned Nigerians, are disturbed by the incessant tanker explosions in the state and in Nigeria generally.

“They  have continued to claim innocent lives and property without any pragmatic action from the FG in particular and the state governments in general..

“Is this how we will continue to witness carnage on our roads due to insensitivity to our plights by our leaders?

“I think the activities of these tankers should be regulated as soon as possible if the authorities cannot fix the rail lines and refineries.”

Mr. Adewale Akinbolade, a civil servant, blamed the operators and owners of the tankers who he accused of having poor maintenance culture.

“The owners are so careless that all they are interested in is to make profit as much as possible, paying little or no attention to the state of their drivers and the vehicles.

“The drivers are so naive that they do not understand simple road signs. The roads are so bad. Our destiny is in our hands. It is for us whether to choose life or otherwise.

“All stakeholders, such as Nigeria Ports Authority, clearing and forwarding agents, National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, should be fully mobilized to ensure safety so as to reduce the menace of fuel  tankers on the roads,” he said.

Fashola fumes,

says he’s sad

Reacting to the tanker
explosion,, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state, urged the Federal Government to put in place structures that would encourage transportation of petroleum products on rails rather than on roads, saying it would avert future tragedies.

He lamented; “If we had spent over $10 billion to build rail evacuation of fuel from Apapa and Tin Can Island, maybe those people wouldn’t have died.

“It is really tragic. I just feel diminished by the fact that we lost lives again when they were avoidable and everyone must take his own share of responsibility on this issue.

“I couldn’t find a word to express how sad I feel especially at this time of this year. It is a year that has started on a bad and sad note. It is a very painful and sad note for the families, and our hearts go out to them.”

Commissioner for Transportation, comrade Kayode Opeifa, in his submission also expressed deep concern over the trend saying, the FG, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, should be held responsible.

According to him: “The FG has failed in its responsibility to find a functional means of transporting petroleum products, there is no functional refinery in the country everyone has to come to Lagos to lift refined PMS and others.

“The railway is not working to full capacity. All these products are supposed to be transported through the railway. The tanker drivers are not well trained, they don’t have the basic rudiment of driving. Lack of adequate maintenance of vehicles is some of the teething problems causing carnage on the road by tanker operators.

Opeifa also urged petroleum unions to ensure that all drivers are duly certified as it would go a long way in reducing road accidents. He enjoined drivers to be very careful when they are behind the wheels, saying that carelessness and over speeding have been major causes of tanker accidents.

Fire and safety services

The Director, Lagos State Fire and Safety Service, Mr Rasaq Fadipe, while also expressing concern over the rising cases of fallen tankers, confirmed that the fire service responded to about six cases of fallen tankers within  the last one week with one fatal incident recorded.

Fadipe lamented the poor attitude of Nigerians to emergency situation.”Many Nigerians do not know how to respond to emergency situation. I think the drivers of these tankers should be trained and retrained at intervals. Most times, the causes of accidents are inexperience and fatigue on the part of drivers as well as lack of maintenance culture of Nigerians.

“At least before the vehicle is put on the road, adequate inspection should be carried out to determine the level of roadworthiness for safety purpose. But all these precautions are not taken, ” Fadipe said.