• Tinubu, S’East senators, Enugu Reps’ caucus, Kalu, minister mourn
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Ndubuisi Orji, Okwe Obi, Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The death toll in the tanker explosion on the Ugwu-Onyeama axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway has risen from 11 to 18 people.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Enugu State Command, Mr. Franklin Agbakoba, confirmed the rise in deaths in Enugu, yesterday.
The incident happened at the Ugwu-Onyeama axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway on Saturday at about 11:30am when a fuel-laden tanker had a brake failure, fell, exploded and left 11 commuters dead initially.
The sector commander said the additional seven deceased were victims of the accident, who were rushed to nearby hospitals, but could not make it.
Agbakoba disclosed that 11 vehicles and not eight, as earlier mentioned, were burnt in the unfortunate incident.
They included one fuel tanker, one water tanker and 15 other vehicles and a tricycle, popularly known as “Keke.”
FRSC said 31 people were involved in the crash while 10 were rescued with different degrees of injuries “Currently, the death toll from the unfortunate accident is 18 persons and we continue to pray for their souls to have eternal rest. However, three persons were not injured but profiled; and they have since rejoined their families and friends.”
Agbakoba lauded Governor Peter Mbah, the Commissioner for Transportation, Obi Ozor, the Police, the Enugu State Fire Service and health officials among others that came to render help and rescue at the scene.
The sector commander said traffic had been diverted to the inward Enugu lane of the ever busy Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.
“For now, we have commenced evacuation of burnt vehicles in the scene of the accident along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway in anticipation of re-opening the section of the road,” he said.
Governor Mbah, who was at the scene of the accident for on-the-spot assessment on Saturday, said the government would ensure that the victims received full and free medical attention.
The governor also revealed that the government would take steps to forestall future occurrences, including enforcement of road rules and fixing the part of the federal road that was in disrepair.
Mbah commiserated with the families of the victims, describing the accident as “unfortunate”.
He directed Agbakoba and Ozor to ensure tankers conveying inflammable substances have anti-spill locks that would prevent spill in case of accidents.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, South East Senate Caucus, Enugu State Caucus of the House of Representatives, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda have condoled with the government and people of Enugu State over the mishap.
President Tinubu, in a statement by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, called for caution and adherence to safety measures among road users, particularly fuel tanker operators.
He directed agencies in charge of enforcing traffic rules to implement measures to prevent recurring fuel tanker explosions nationwide and commiserated with families of the deceased and the injured and prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed and quick recovery for those receiving medical treatment.
Similarly, the South East Senate Caucus, in a statement signed by the caucus leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, decried the incident, saying it has become one too many.
He said it was disheartening that Nigerians were being literally roasted on the roads as a result of avoidable accidents and called on the relevant authorities to deploy immediately to nip future occurrences in the bud.
The caucus, he added, was pained that innocent people, particularly road users, are now frequently caught up in an accident that smacks of total neglect of the nation’s highways by traffic managers.
“It’s sorrowful and very unfortunate that we will lose many of our people, whose total number is yet to be ascertained barely a week after a similar incident in Niger State, which pain and shock Nigeria is yet to recover from.
“It is high time the traffic managers step up their game. The frequency of these accidents now constitutes a total embarrassment to the country. We can’t continue losing our people this way.”
The senator extended the caucus’s condolences to the victims families, the governor, government and people of Enugu State.
The Enugu State Caucus of the House of Representatives described it as “one incident too many” and called for thorough investigations into the recurring tanker explosions across the country.
In a statement by the state Caucus Leader, Nnolim Nnaji, the caucus applauded the governor for his decision to fix the deteriorated portion of the Ugwu Onyeama federal road at the expense of the state government to save the lives of the traveling public even as he directed the state Ministry of Transport and the Sector Command of FRSC to carry out proper inspection of all fuel laden trucks to ensure that they were roadworthy and anti fuel spill installed on them.
OUK, Kalu, minister
In his reaction, Senato Kalu, representing Abia North, in a statement, extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, offered prayers for the souls of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to those receiving medical attention.
The former Abia State governor also condoled the government of Enugu State led by Dr. Peter Mbah and commended the swift response of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and other relevant authorities for their efforts in managing the disaster.
He also emphasised the need for road users, particularly fuel tanker operators, to exercise caution and adhere to safety regulations to prevent such occurrences in the future.
He called for enhanced enforcement of road safety measures to ensure the protection of lives and property across the country.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, equally expressed sadness over the incident.
“This horrific incident happened just days after another tanker exploded in Niger State, with over 80 people killed.
“I am deeply concerned; it’s been one death too many.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families as well as the government and the people of Enugu State.
“I also want to use this opportunity to urge the Federal Government to take immediate action to address the deplorable state of our roads, especially the 9th mile expressway, provide safety measures and educate citizens to help prevent such tragedies in the future.
“It is our responsibility to act now and protect ourselves.”
He prayed for quick recovery of the injured and for the repose of those who died.
He urged relevant government agencies to provide relief materials to the bereaved, pledging that the National Assembly would continue to support the federal government through budgetary allocations and legislative instruments.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, in a statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Iliya Rhoda Ishaku, said: “I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of those that lost their loved ones and the injured. My thoughts and prayers are with you and I pray for the repose of the souls of the departed and speedy recovery for the injured.”
He commended the security agencies, FRSC, the Enugu State State Emergency Management Agency and other relevant authorities that helped at the scene of the tragic accident.
The minister stressed the need to embark on intensive sensitisation campaigns to create awareness on the dangers of scooping of petroleum products by the public at the scene of tanker accidents, the need for prompt emergency response by relevant agencies as well as regular vehicle maintenance and adherence to road safety measures by drivers.