Olofu explosion: Senate insists on NMDPRA, SON certification for tankers
The Senate has decided to mandate the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) to begin certification of tankers as a prerequisite for the use of Nigerian roads with petroleum products or other flammable substances.
This is a follow-up to a motion moved on Wednesday under Matters of Urgent Public Importance pursuant to Rules 41 and 51 of the 2015 Rules of the Senate by Senator Isah Jibrin (Kogi East).
p>The motion was titled “urgent need for the intervention of the Federal Government of Nigeria to alleviate the suffering of the victims of the oil tanker explosion at Olofu in the Ofu LGA of Kogi State”.
p>The Senate noted that Olofu is a popular settlement along the Lokoja-Anyigba road in Kogi State, providing access points to south-south, south-east and other parts from the center-north.
Senator Jibrin regretted that a fatal accident involving an oil tanker occurred in Olofu on the 11″ day of November 2022, which resulted in the tanker exploding and the resulting hell that lasted for days .
"Saddened that about 30 people were roasted, 76 others were seriously injured and burned while more than 40 vehicles and several motorcycles were burned by the tanker explosion, leaving innocent citizens in a state of mourning , agony and economic impotence.< /p>
“Concerned that the oil tanker explosions have caused wanton destruction of life and property, not only along the Lokoja-Anyigba road, but across the country, resulting in unprecedented pain and grief for Nigerians.
"Furthermore, we are concerned that the majority of these tanker explosions are caused by the poor quality of the tanks, which are manufactured and used without standard controls to ensure their good quality.
"Worried that the victims of these tanker explosions are left without rescue in most cases due to the lack of insurance policies to cover these third party damages as owners focus on insurance coverages for tankers and their contents only.
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"Furthermore, I am concerned that studies indicate that approximately 62% of trucks involved in serious road accidents that result in monumental disasters are of poor quality, with most resulting in fires, as approximately 54% of fuel spills that lead to: fire starts are due to the negligence of truckers and the poor condition of vehicles.
"Alarmed that available data received from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) shows that between August 2021 and June 2022, 1,070 accidents involving 378 road tankers and 792 trailers occurred across the country.
>“Further alarmed that available statistics show that, during the same period, 111 vehicles were set on fire, while 55 stores and 84 homes were set on fire in some states.
“Convinced that unless urgent action is taken to regulate the use of tankers on Nigerian roads, the agony of wanton destruction of life and property caused by explosions will continue unabated, and the government might not be able to cope with the long-term consequences.
Supporting the motion, Senator Yakubu Oseni (Kogi Central) said that Kogi State is bordered by 20 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that "coupled with the poor state of federal roads , Kogi is the most affected," he said.
Oseni said that "Kogi is very vulnerable" for the reasons given above and therefore deserves "intervention" from the federal government since the state government alone cannot bear the burden."
p>According to him, this type of incidence is happening all the time in Lokoja, Okene and other parts of the state.
Senators Sani Musa (Niger East), Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North) and others overwhelmingly supported the motion.
The Senate therefore decided to urge the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to intervene in the plight of the victims of the oil tanker explosion in Olofu, Ofu LGA, Kogi State by providing palliatives to the victims.
"Urge the Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions to interact with relevant stakeholders to make it mandatory for tanker owners to carry insurance, covering damage caused by tanker explosions to third parties in case of losses to third parties.
The Senate finally observed a minute of silence in honor of the souls lost in the explosion of the oil tanker Olofu.
The Senate has decided to mandate the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) to begin certification of tankers as a prerequisite for the use of Nigerian roads with petroleum products or other flammable substances.
This is a follow-up to a motion moved on Wednesday under Matters of Urgent Public Importance pursuant to Rules 41 and 51 of the 2015 Rules of the Senate by Senator Isah Jibrin (Kogi East).
p>The motion was titled “urgent need for the intervention of the Federal Government of Nigeria to alleviate the suffering of the victims of the oil tanker explosion at Olofu in the Ofu LGA of Kogi State”.
p>The Senate noted that Olofu is a popular settlement along the Lokoja-Anyigba road in Kogi State, providing access points to south-south, south-east and other parts from the center-north.
Senator Jibrin regretted that a fatal accident involving an oil tanker occurred in Olofu on the 11″ day of November 2022, which resulted in the tanker exploding and the resulting hell that lasted for days .
"Saddened that about 30 people were roasted, 76 others were seriously injured and burned while more than 40 vehicles and several motorcycles were burned by the tanker explosion, leaving innocent citizens in a state of mourning , agony and economic impotence.< /p>
“Concerned that the oil tanker explosions have caused wanton destruction of life and property, not only along the Lokoja-Anyigba road, but across the country, resulting in unprecedented pain and grief for Nigerians.
"Furthermore, we are concerned that the majority of these tanker explosions are caused by the poor quality of the tanks, which are manufactured and used without standard controls to ensure their good quality.
"Worried that the victims of these tanker explosions are left without rescue in most cases due to the lack of insurance policies to cover these third party damages as owners focus on insurance coverages for tankers and their contents only.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
"Furthermore, I am concerned that studies indicate that approximately 62% of trucks involved in serious road accidents that result in monumental disasters are of poor quality, with most resulting in fires, as approximately 54% of fuel spills that lead to: fire starts are due to the negligence of truckers and the poor condition of vehicles.
"Alarmed that available data received from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) shows that between August 2021 and June 2022, 1,070 accidents involving 378 road tankers and 792 trailers occurred across the country.
>“Further alarmed that available statistics show that, during the same period, 111 vehicles were set on fire, while 55 stores and 84 homes were set on fire in some states.
“Convinced that unless urgent action is taken to regulate the use of tankers on Nigerian roads, the agony of wanton destruction of life and property caused by explosions will continue unabated, and the government might not be able to cope with the long-term consequences.
Supporting the motion, Senator Yakubu Oseni (Kogi Central) said that Kogi State is bordered by 20 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that "coupled with the poor state of federal roads , Kogi is the most affected," he said.
Oseni said that "Kogi is very vulnerable" for the reasons given above and therefore deserves "intervention" from the federal government since the state government alone cannot bear the burden."
p>According to him, this type of incidence is happening all the time in Lokoja, Okene and other parts of the state.
Senators Sani Musa (Niger East), Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North) and others overwhelmingly supported the motion.
The Senate therefore decided to urge the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to intervene in the plight of the victims of the oil tanker explosion in Olofu, Ofu LGA, Kogi State by providing palliatives to the victims.
"Urge the Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions to interact with relevant stakeholders to make it mandatory for tanker owners to carry insurance, covering damage caused by tanker explosions to third parties in case of losses to third parties.
The Senate finally observed a minute of silence in honor of the souls lost in the explosion of the oil tanker Olofu.
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