Abuja explosion: PCNGI inspects accident scene, calls for safety awareness

The Chief Executive and Program Director of the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI), Engineer Michael Oluwagbemi, on Thursday inspected the scene of the tragic accident at Karu Bridge in Abuja, FCT, alongside officials from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), who are conducting their own investigations.

Tribune Online had reported that a cement-laden trailer lost control of its brakes on Wednesday night, ramming into vehicles at the Karu Bridge portion of the ever-busy Abuja-Keffi Expressway, resulting in the loss of lives.

While commiserating with the victims and their relatives, Oluwagbemi called for greater safety awareness and adherence to safety protocols at accident scenes.

The PCNGI boss also emphasized the need for better monitoring of articulated trucks to ensure brake safety and compliance with maintenance requirements. He advocated for a proper licensing regime for commercial drivers, which includes both safety and evacuation training.

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A statement signed by the Technical Assistant for Stakeholder Management and Public Engagement at PCNGI, Kenechukwu Chukwu, urged all stakeholders to contribute to better monitoring of the gas vehicle ecosystem. It also reiterated the Initiative’s commitment to ensuring the continued safety of Nigerian road users while promoting cheaper, safer, and more reliable energy sources to drive the economy.

“Further to its preliminary findings on Wednesday and its call for patience as authorities investigate the root cause of the accident, PCNGI reaffirms the intrinsic safety of Compressed Natural Gas vehicles. It enjoins all stakeholders to support the proposed launch of the Nigerian Gas Vehicle Monitoring System (NGVMS) for better oversight of the gas vehicle ecosystem.

“To this end, PCNGI remains committed to ensuring the safety of Nigerian road users while promoting alternative energy sources that are cheaper, safer, and more reliable for the nation’s economic development,” the statement read.