Rivers Tanker Inferno: NGF advocates safer means of transporting petroleum products

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has said that discussions are advancing among the 36 State governors and strategic federal agencies in the oil and gas industry over the adoption of safer methods of transportation of petroleum products across the country.

Chairman of the forum, Mallam Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, gave the hint on Sunday 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, who is also the Governor of Kwara State, 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.

He said, “I came over to commiserate with the Government and people of Rivers State over the tanker fire incident and the subsequent huge loss of lives. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.

“We have peer review discussions over it. And a similar incident happened in Ogun State as well, which you are aware of, and that’s a CNG tanker, Rivers State was petrol tanker,” he said.

He added; “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 Downstream Petroleum Regulatory 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 emphasize improving and expanding pipelines for the transportation of products as well,” the NGF chairman added.

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