…Ban is for Trucks Using One-Way Route
The catastrophic tanker explosion that occurred on Saturday at the Dikko Junction, Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, Niger State has consumed the lives of 73 persons, and several others sustained various degrees of injuries. Police said.
The truck loaded with petrol lost control and eventually caught fire, and those who died in the disaster were attempting to scoop fuel from the overturned tanker.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi in a statement issued on Sunday morning said about 73 dead bodies were recovered from the scene.
The statement said the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun also extended “heartfelt condolences to the government and the good people” of the state.
The IGP, while emphasizing the importance of strict adherence to safety protocols on roads across the nation, warns firmly against the “negligence and disregard for regulations that can lead to such catastrophic incidents”.
The IGP Egbetokun charged vehicle owners and drivers to “ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy and abide by the traffic rules in order to prevent any tragedies”.
The police boss directed all State Commissioners of Police to “strengthen their Motor Traffic Divisions (MTDs) of their respective State Commands, in collaboration with other traffic management agencies, to ensure strict compliance and enforcement of established protocols and traffic regulations on highways”.
Meanwhile, Niger state Governor, Umaru Bago during a visit to the scene of the incident has banned heavy-duty trucks from using the one-way route through Dikko Bridge.
Governor Bago expressed profound grief over the loss of lives, describing the event as tragic but noting that nearby communities were not affected and condemned the reckless behavior of some drivers.
“To enforce this directive, vehicles coming from the Maje direction will no longer be allowed to pass through Dikko Bridge. Instead, they must take the alternate route beneath the bridge and make a U-turn”.
The governor announced the redeployment of doctors from Minna hospitals to assist in treating victims currently receiving care at Suleja General Hospital.
Governor Bago commended the swift response of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Fire Service, FRSC, and the National Union of Road Transport Workers in evacuating victims and managing the aftermath of the explosion.
The governor has called on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) sector commander to deploy a detachment to the area to ensure compliance and urged transport unions to collaborate with the FRSC in implementing this new traffic regulation.
He attributed the frequent accidents in the area to delays in completing the Minna-Suleja road project and appealed to the federal government to expedite the project.
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