Governor Siminalayi Fubara termed the fire caused by a tanker carrying petrol in Rivers State as “very unfortunate.” He emphasized that the accident could have been avoided if drivers exercised caution.
The incident occurred on the Eleme section of the East-West Road during ongoing reconstruction.
Fubara, along with the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Uchechukwu Nwafor, visited the scene on Saturday morning, expressing sadness at the devastating aftermath.
In a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nelson Chukwudi, Governor Fubara clarified that he was alerted to the incident by the Managing Director of Indorama Petrochemical and Fertilizer Company Limited in Eleme Local Government Area.
Upon receiving the news, Fubara promptly contacted security agencies and directed them to the scene to ensure the security of the area and prevent any further escalation of the situation.
Fubara expressed, “We are here to witness firsthand and gather information about last night’s incident.
Around 7:30 – 8 pm, we received reports about the severity of the incident. It was caused by a tanker carrying Premium Motor Spirit, as informed by the MD of Indorama. I immediately alerted security agencies to take control of the situation.”
He continued, “This morning, the scene is distressing. Numerous vehicles were destroyed, and lives were lost. I have instructed relevant government agencies to provide detailed reports.
This will guide our decisions to support bereaved families and alleviate losses, which many of them are not responsible for.”
Fubara emphasized, “The condition of this road is well-known. Motorists should exercise caution.
This situation could have been avoided if proper driving practices were followed. However, it’s too late for that now. We will focus on managing the aftermath and minimizing its impact.”