BY SAM OTUONYE
Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) have extended their heartfelt condolences to the victims of the tragic petrol tanker explosion that occurred at Dikko-Maje Junction along the Abuja-Kaduna Road in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State on Saturday.
The incident which claimed the lives of several individuals with many others sustaining varying degrees of injuries occured when they were attempting to scoop fuel from a fallen tanker.
Lokpobiri in his his condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones in the explosion expressed sadness over the incident.
“I am deeply saddened by this tragic event, and my thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. May the souls of the departed find eternal rest, and may God grant their families the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he said.
The Minister also prayed for the speedy recovery of those who sustained injuries in the accident.
“To the injured, I pray for their swift and complete healing. This is a time for us to stand together as a nation in solidarity with all those affected by this tragedy,” he added.
Similarly, during a condolence visit to the General Hospital in Sabon Wuse, Niger State, NNPC Ltd’s Executive Vice President, Downstream, Mr. Isiyaku Abdullahi, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives. He offered prayers for the peaceful repose of the departed souls and wished the injured a swift and full recovery.
Abdullahi also urged the public to exercise extreme caution and avoid approaching fallen petrol tankers to prevent such heartbreaking tragedies in the future, stating that NNPC Ltd remains committed to the safety and well-being of all Nigerians and will continue to advocate for greater awareness of the dangers associated with fuel-related accidents.
Lokpobiri, while emphasizing the need for enhanced safety measures to minimize the occurrence of such incidents, urged citizens to exercise caution during emergencies involving petrol-ladened tankers.
He stated, “As much as we strive to implement safety measures across the petroleum supply chain, I must strongly appeal to the public to avoid approaching petrol-ladened tankers in the event of an accident. I have appealed this severally, the risks are enormous, and lives are too precious to be lost unnecessarily.”
The Minister disclosed that he had directed NMDPRA to commence investigation on the incident, the Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of petroleum transportation across the country, calling for sustained collaboration among relevant stakeholders to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
“This tragedy reminds us of the importance of collective responsibility. We must all work togethe – government, transport operators, and citizens – to ensure that safety remains paramount in all aspects of petroleum distribution,” he noted.
He assured the people of Niger State of the Ministry’s support during this difficult period, reiterating his unwavering commitment to promoting safety and well-being in all operations under his purview.