OGUN MOVES AGAINST INCESSANT TRUCK/TRAILER/TANKER ACCIDENT; _CHARGES VIS/TRACE/FRSC ON COMPLIANCE, ENFORCEMENT

The Ogun State government regrets all fatalities and injuries caused by a fuel-laden tanker explosion at Kara-Isheri axis, along Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Saturday, 7th November, 2020, and the scale of damage and destruction it brought upon the State, and all affected families and businesses.

The State government extends its very deep sympathy to all families, relatives and friends of victims of the avoidable inferno. While also wishing those who sustained various degrees of injuries and losses, quick recovery of all. 

Overtime, the State government intends to trigger a structured national conversation, which shall ensure that fire disasters and other related road mishaps, especially those associated with fuel tankers and other articulated vehicles, become the subject of debate at national fora. This is with a view to ensuring that far reaching national solutions can be comprehensively devised and implementation co-ordinated across the whole federation. 

In the interim, Ogun State government enjoins all key stakeholders to effectively cooperate with government, by taking basic vehicle care, road-worthiness and safety actions, that would mitigate the safety risks associated with articulated vehicles and tankers. 

Heavy goods vehicle (HGV) owners and operators should note that  the traffic and vehicle road worthiness compliance and enforcement agencies operating in the State have been mandated to subject trucks, trailers and heavy goods vehicles to closer scrutiny in the coming weeks and months. Overloaded vehicles and others visibly unfit for road transportation, will be appropriately sanctioned with all applicable legal options and actions. 

Owners of HGV's, their managers and employers of operators should ensure that drivers and operators of trucks and trailers undergo adequate training, and are formally certified on basic cargo handling. 

All private and commercial truck and trailer vehicles owners are urged to ensure immediate refurbishment of manhole mechanisms to guarantee zero leakage tolerance, as well as ensure the installation of capacity gauges. 

Authorities will painstakingly monitor and inspect tankers periodically for adequate fire resistant lining and availability of on-board extinguishers.