Lokpobiri Mourn Victims of Tanker explosion in Niger
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources,Oil, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, has expressed grief and profound sympathy with the Government and people of Niger state over the tragic explosion of a petrol-ladened tanker at Dikko Junction along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.
The Minister describes as heartbreaking tragedy the unfortunate incident, which resulted in the loss of lives and left several others injured.
A statement issued at the weekend to newsmen by SA Media and Communication to the Minister, Nneamaka Okafor, the Minister
extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones in the explosion.
The statement reads “I am deeply saddened by this tragic event, and my thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. May the souls of the departed find eternal rest, and may God grant their families the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,”
“To the injured, I pray for their swift and complete healing. This is a time for us to stand together as a nation in solidarity with all those affected by this tragedy,” he added.
While emphasizing the need for enhanced safety measures to minimize the occurrence of such incidents, Sen. Lokpobiri urged citizens to exercise caution during emergencies involving petrol-ladened tankers.
“As much as we strive to implement safety measures across the petroleum supply chain, I must strongly appeal to the public to avoid approaching petrol-ladened tankers in the event of an accident.
I have appealed this severally, the risks are enormous, and lives are too precious to be lost unnecessarily.”
While noting that he has directed NMDPRA to commence investigation on the incident, the Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of petroleum transportation across the country, calling for sustained collaboration among relevant stakeholders to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
“This tragedy reminds us of the importance of collective responsibility. We must all work togethe – government, transport operators, and citizens – to ensure that safety remains paramount in all aspects of petroleum distribution,” he noted.
The Honourable Minister assured the people of Niger State of the Ministry’s support during this difficult period, reiterating his unwavering commitment to promoting safety and well-being in all operations under his purview.
