Frequent petrol tanker explosions: Lokpobiri urges caution, wants stakeholders collaboration to curb menace
As many lives are lost to frequent petrol tanker explosions in different parts of the country, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has called for collaborative efforts by stakeholders to curb the dangerous trend.
In a key note address to MEMAN Webinar on “Improving Safety in the Transportation of Petroleum Products” where he called on industry players to step up as self-regulation is not optional but an imperative.
According to him” this is not just about enforcement – it is about shared responsibility”.
He made this position known in a statement he signed and circulated to newsmen in Abuja.
He emphasized that public awareness is very crucial in preventing such ugly incidents, admonishing people not rush to scenes of tanker accidents to scoop fuel at the peril of their own lives.
“We cannot continue to stand by while lives are lost to preventable petrol-laden tanker explosions across the country.
“The urgency of this crisis demands a coordinated effort between Government agencies and private sector stakeholders, particularly those who own and operate these trucks.
“As Government is strengthening inter-agency collaboration with the FRSC, the Fire Service, NMDPRA and other key stakeholders to enforce compliance with safety regulations, petroleum transporters must ensure their vehicles are roadworthy, their drivers are trained and certified, and reckless practices such as speeding, overloading, and negligence are eliminated.
“Above all, our people must stop the practice of running to a fallen tanker to scoop fuel.
“The dangers are unimaginable and calls for immediate evacuation while reaching out to the authorities for immediate intervention.
“We cannot continue to stand by while lives are lost to preventable petrol-laden tanker explosions across the country.
“The urgency of this crisis demands a coordinated effort between Government agencies and private sector stakeholders, particularly those who own and operate these trucks.
“Above all, our people must stop the practice of running to a fallen tanker to scoop fuel.
“The dangers are unimaginable and calls for immediate evacuation while reaching out to the authorities for immediate intervention.
“In this regard, I urge everyone to refrain from rushing to accident scenes involving fallen petrol tankers.
“The temptation to scoop fuel is not worth the risk—such actions often lead to devastating explosions and unnecessary tragedies.
“Let us work together to prioritize safety and save lives.
“We cannot continue to stand by while lives are lost to preventable petrol-laden tanker explosions across the country.
“The urgency of this crisis demands a coordinated effort between Government agencies and private sector stakeholders, particularly those who own and operate these trucks”.
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