Niger Tanker Explosion: NUPENG urges government to repair roads, senditise citizens on danger of fuel scooping

The national secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has urged the Federal Government to repair roads to avert tanker tragedies across the country.

NUPENG made the call in reaction to the recent tragic tanker explosion in Suleja, Niger State.

A statement jointly signed by Williams Akporeha and Olawale Afolabi, respectively, President and General Secretary stated that the union was “deeply saddened by the loss of lives, the destruction of properties, and the injuries sustained by many in this devastating incident.”

The statement, issued to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, also appealed to the Federal Government to urgently address the poor condition of federal roads.

The statement read in part: “The Union takes this opportunity to urgently appeal to the Federal Government to repair bad roads to prevent such incidents and to intensify efforts in sensitising the public about the dangers of scooping fuel from petroleum truck accidents.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones during this traumatic and challenging time.”

NUPENG further sppealed to the Federal Government to take urgent steps to repair federal roads which it noted were in bad shape.

It also tasked the Federal Government to mandate its relevant agencies to seize the initiative towards sensitising Nigerians on the danger of scooping fuel from scenes of petrol tanker accidents.

The statement further reads in part:”The Union takes this opportunity to urgently appeal to the Federal government to repazir bad roads to prevent such incidents and to intensify efforts in sensitizing the public about the dangers of scooping fuel from accidental situations of petroleum trucks on highways.

“As a responsible organization, NUPENG collaborates annually with relevant agencies, including the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Police, and State Traffic Management agencies, to train our drivers on road safety. The Union is committed to continuously training and retraining our members on best driving and safety practices.

“We stand in solidarity with the affected families and the entire Dikko community in Niger State. We commend the emergency responders who bravely extinguished the fire and rescued many injured victims.

“We urge all relevant authorities to provide the necessary support and medical care to those injured and to take measures to prevent future tragedies.

“May the souls of the departed rest in peace, and may their families find the strength to bear these irreparable losses.”