The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has reinforced its stance on tanker safety protocols, insisting that no petrol tanker is permitted to load without passing stringent inspections. This comes amid growing concern over the frequency of deadly tanker explosions, the latest of which claimed over 100 lives in Jigawa State.
The devastating incident occurred on October 15 in Majia, Taura Local Government Area, when a petrol-laden truck travelling from Kano to Yobe exploded, leading to widespread casualties. Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, revealed that the death toll had risen to 181 by October 22, with 80 individuals still in critical condition in hospitals.
In the wake of the tragedy, the FRSC reiterated its commitment to safety, emphasising its “Safe to Load” programme. FRSC spokesperson Olusegun Ogungbemide outlined the initiative’s role in enforcing vital safety measures on tankers, including the installation of safety valves, reflective tapes, and fire extinguishers. He explained that the programme deploys FRSC personnel to depots across the country to inspect tankers before they are allowed to load fuel.
“The corps has been enforcing mandatory retrofitting and installation of safety valves on tankers,” Ogungbemide said. “No tanker can enter the loading terminal without first meeting these rigorous safety standards.”
He added that the FRSC had also ramped up special patrols targeting tankers, trailers, and articulated vehicles to prevent overloading and other violations that could lead to accidents.
As the number of casualties from the Jigawa explosion continues to rise, there are growing calls for more stringent enforcement of safety regulations to prevent further disasters on Nigeria’s roads.
