From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Discussions are ongoing among the 36 state governors and strategic federal agencies in the oil and gas industry on the adoption of safer methods of transportation of petroleum products across the country.
Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, made the disclosure, yesterday, in Government House, Port Harcourt, when he visited to commiserate with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the people and government of Rivers State over the Friday night’s tanker inferno which claimed the lives of five persons and razed over 120 vehicles on the Indorama-Aleto bridge axis of the East West Road in Eleme Local Government Area.
AbdulRazaq, Kwara State governor, recalled a similar carnage in Ogun State, which was caused by a tanker conveying compressed natural gas (CNG) that impacted lives.
He described what happened in Rivers State as a huge loss, and said his meeting with Governor Fubara availed them the opportunity to have peer review discussions over the recurring decimal.
“We also spoke with the head of the downstream petroleum regulatory agency, and there will be a review of some laws. There will also be engagement between the agency and state agencies in terms of ensuring health and safety on these issues.
“As you know, Nigeria relies a lot, virtually, on pipelines for the movement of petroleum products, and we need to strengthen regulations in that sector, and also emphasise on improving and expanding pipelines for the transportation of products as well,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has disclosed the cause of a tanker explosion.
The Rivers State Corps Commander, Christopher Kuje, in a statement in Port Harcourt, yesterday, said preliminary investigation revealed that the incident happened when two drivers jostling for space collided sideways and caused rupture in the tanker carrying petroleum product.
He said the incident occurred a few minutes after 8pm on the road which is currently under reconstruction.
According to him, four persons died and 60 vehicles were burnt in the carnage.
Kuje said FRSC personnel, apart from traffic control, created diversion through Oyigbo as an alternative route to ease traffic.
Property owners on the Eleme East West Road have, hoevere, accused the constructing firm, RCC, of poor handling of the road leading to the carnage that was recorded last Friday night.
Chairman of the group, Joseph Obele, in a statement said: “The poor handling and inability of RCC to provide smooth alternative route or ease of traffic is the root cause of the fire accident; hence, RCC should pay for all the damages caused by the fire accident, after which the contract should be revoked immediately.
“The deplorable state of the Eleme East West road triggered massive coordinated protest by the youths of Eleme, supported by the Ogoni and Okrika youths, after which the road construction was re-awarded to RCC.
“Signing of the contract by RCC attracted protest letters from community stakeholders and users of the road because it was obvious that RCC never had the capacity and reputation to handle such a contract.
“The Eleme East West road can be described as one of the most economic strategic roads in Nigeria and such a critical road should be awarded to one of the first most reputable construction companies in Nigeria which RCC is not one.
“Since the commencement of the slow pace construction by RCC, road users are lamenting every day for the inability of RCC to provide a smooth alternative route.
“Motorists and business operators are counting losses arising from the hours spent in traffic because of the construction done by RCC.”