President Bola Tinubu has set up a high-level committee to investigate the alarming frequency of tanker explosions on Nigerian highways.
This followed last week’s devastating explosion that killed over 80 people in Niger State.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this during a visit to the palace of Emir of Suleja, Awwal Ibrahim, on Sunday.
Idris said: “The president has set up a committee to uncover the root causes of these frequent tanker explosions and recommend effective solutions.”
The committee, which includes representatives from the Ministries of Information and Humanitarian Affairs, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), tanker drivers’ associations, and other key stakeholders, will address safety lapses in fuel transportation and develop actionable strategies to avert future disasters.
Idris also revealed that the Federal Government would launch a nationwide awareness campaign highlighting the dangers of scooping petrol from accident scenes, alongside promoting safer practices for tanker drivers and road users.
A tanker explosion in Delta State earlier this month claimed two lives, while 209 people were killed and scores injured in a similar incident in Jigawa State last October.