The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ebonyi State Command has called for restricted movement of tankers carrying inflammable products on Nigerian roads as a measure to curb persistent explosions.
The State Commandant, Nnadi Francis made this call on Tuesday in his office in Abakaliki Ebonyi State capital while interacting with journalists on effects of the recent petrol tanker explosion in Enugu State.
He also preferred ways to reducing the reoccurring explosions which usually destroy scores of lives and property on Nigerian roads.
Nnadi opined that there should be curfew for tanker drivers carrying inflammable products from 6am to 9pm to reduce the rate of disaster.
The state commandant stressed that the tanker drivers carrying inflammable products will easily move to their destinations when the roads are supposedly free from heavy traffic.
“Two, three weeks ago, if you can recall what happened in Niger State, it went viral. We lost a lot of souls, over 100. Somewhere in Ogun State last week, such happened again. On Sunday, I was away from Awka when that incident happened. I went and used the old road.
“When I came in, I raised an alert to the state government. I said I am going to talk with other security agencies; Federal Road Safety Corps are our partners when it comes to the safety of our roads, the police is in charge of internal security, NSCDC are first respondents when it comes to disaster management, the Nigerian Army takes care of our outer territories. We need to come together, let us talk about the safety of our roads. These tankers moving around during the day time is not doing us well.
“Ebonyi State government can say no tanker enters my territory in the day time on the roads. We can do it, you can only move at nights when the roads are free. Once it is 6:am, park wherever you are. The weather is changing, this global weather has affected a lot of things.
“At the slightest touch, it will ignite and only God knows the people that will be roasted. Just like the gas plant that I went to seal, over 2.8tons. They cook beside it, you see children playing around it. Of course, you know what that could have been. PMS is inflammable but LPGs is highly inflammable. It travels like a rocket.
“Let us stop these tankers ladden with inflammable materials coming at a day time when the roads are too busy. We can recommend this to the government, we can actually enforce it. All filing station owners, gas owners, if you have to move in your products here, let it be when the roads are safe. Once it has to do with day time, anything can happen.
“We have to stop these tanker drivers from operating in day time. They have an association, we will call them for a meeting, tell your drivers once it is 6:am, park wherever you are. You don’t notice these things happening at night, it is because there will be no contact and the weather is calm at night. So, you hardly have that kind of an accident.
“My take is, let us have a holistic approach on it. On my own side, to first educate these tanker drivers. You need to educate them otherwise you are going to have issues confronting them.”