January 28, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ebonyi State Command, has urged greater collaboration with sister security agencies to tackle the frequent occurrences of petrol tanker explosions on the nation’s roads.
The call was made by the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Francis Nnadi, during a courtesy visit by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ebonyi State Chapter, led by its Chairman, Comrade Uchenna Inya.
Nnadi emphasised the need for a unified approach between federal and state governments to address the issue, recommending a ban on the daytime movement of inflammable products by petrol tankers.
He lamented the tragic loss of lives due to tanker explosions, underscoring the urgency for a more comprehensive and proactive solution.
The NSCDC boss recalled recent incidents, noting that such explosions had claimed many lives.
“Two or three weeks ago, we saw what happened in Niger State, which went viral. We lost over 100 lives. Just last week, there was another explosion in Ogun State, and even before yesterday, I was away from Awka when a similar incident occurred,” Nnadi stated.
He continued, “Upon my return, I immediately raised an alert with the state government. I also discussed the issue with other security agencies such as the Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigerian Army, and our own NSCDC, which is often the first responder in disaster management.”
Nnadi proposed a joint strategy involving all relevant agencies to ensure safer road conditions, especially for petrol tankers.
He suggested that state governments, particularly in Ebonyi, could institute a policy prohibiting tankers from operating during the day, restricting their movement to nighttime when roads are clearer and the weather is more predictable.
“Ebonyi State could easily enforce a rule that no tanker enters its territory during the daytime. Tankers should only move at night when the roads are less congested. Once it’s 6:00 a.m., they should park wherever they are. The changing global weather has exacerbated the danger, and at the slightest touch, a tanker could ignite,” Nnadi cautioned.
He also highlighted the potential risks posed by gas plants, pointing out the dangers of cooking near highly inflammable materials.
“We must take action. The risks posed by these tankers carrying inflammable products during peak traffic hours are far too great. We can recommend this policy to the government and even enforce it,” Nnadi said.
He further stressed the importance of educating tanker drivers to ensure that they are aware of the dangers of daytime travel.
“We need to engage and educate these tanker drivers. If we don’t, we will continue to face serious challenges with their operations,” he warned.
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