Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Thursday
said he was devastated by Tuesday’s petroleum
tanker fire which resulted into loss of lives and
property worth millions of Naira.
Speaking to newsmen after inspecting some
ongoing projects in Ikorodu, the governor said he
was overwhelmed by the tragedy.
He said that the incident reinforced the fact that
moving fuel on the roads was not safe, saying it
was time to take petroleum tankers off the roads.
Fashola therefore urged the Federal Government to
take urgent steps to ensure fuel was strictly moved
on railways to avert such tragedies.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls an
inferno from a fallen petroleum tanker in Apapa on
Tuesday, which claimed no fewer than 15 lives and
destroyed property worth millions of naira.
“It is a tragedy and I couldn’t find the right words to
describe it, especially as it came very early in the
year.
“The year has started on a bad note for some
families.
“Our heart goes out to the victims but all of us must
take our share of the responsibility, first the Federal
Government.
“Why in this day and age, we are still probably one
of the few oil producing states left in the world still
trucking tankers right through cities?
“For me, there is no
rocket science about
restoring the old trains,
since the rail is working,
let us begin to use it to
move fuel out off the
roads,’’ he said.
The tanker owners
should be encouraged to
buy rail wagons and
begin to move fuel within
the country’s safely,” he
said.
The governor also urged
traders who do their
businesses on the
highway to desist from
the practice as it was
dangerous.
He said that the tragedy
had further exposed the
fact that street trading
was a clear threat to
lives, adding it
inconvenienced other
road users.
Fashola said that the
various ongoing projects
in Ikorodu were a
demonstration of
government’s
commitment to
transforming the area.
He said that work had reached an advanced stage
on the 10 inner city roads in the area, and assured
that the projects would be ready before the end of
the year.
He said that site had been cleared to construct a
housing estate of 240 units in Akanimodo to widen
access to housing.
The governor said that another housing estate in
Igbogbo was almost ready, assuring allocation
would begin before the end of the year.
Fashola urged residents to pay their taxes to enable
government execute more development projects.
NAN reports some of the projects inspected by the
governor in Ikorodu include ongoing expansion of
Ikorodu Road, rehabilitation work on Awolowo Road,
and work on the Igbogbo housing estate. (NAN)
said he was devastated by Tuesday’s petroleum
tanker fire which resulted into loss of lives and
property worth millions of Naira.
Speaking to newsmen after inspecting some
ongoing projects in Ikorodu, the governor said he
was overwhelmed by the tragedy.
He said that the incident reinforced the fact that
moving fuel on the roads was not safe, saying it
was time to take petroleum tankers off the roads.
Fashola therefore urged the Federal Government to
take urgent steps to ensure fuel was strictly moved
on railways to avert such tragedies.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls an
inferno from a fallen petroleum tanker in Apapa on
Tuesday, which claimed no fewer than 15 lives and
destroyed property worth millions of naira.
“It is a tragedy and I couldn’t find the right words to
describe it, especially as it came very early in the
year.
“The year has started on a bad note for some
families.
“Our heart goes out to the victims but all of us must
take our share of the responsibility, first the Federal
Government.
“Why in this day and age, we are still probably one
of the few oil producing states left in the world still
trucking tankers right through cities?
“For me, there is no
rocket science about
restoring the old trains,
since the rail is working,
let us begin to use it to
move fuel out off the
roads,’’ he said.
The tanker owners
should be encouraged to
buy rail wagons and
begin to move fuel within
the country’s safely,” he
said.
The governor also urged
traders who do their
businesses on the
highway to desist from
the practice as it was
dangerous.
He said that the tragedy
had further exposed the
fact that street trading
was a clear threat to
lives, adding it
inconvenienced other
road users.
Fashola said that the
various ongoing projects
in Ikorodu were a
demonstration of
government’s
commitment to
transforming the area.
He said that work had reached an advanced stage
on the 10 inner city roads in the area, and assured
that the projects would be ready before the end of
the year.
He said that site had been cleared to construct a
housing estate of 240 units in Akanimodo to widen
access to housing.
The governor said that another housing estate in
Igbogbo was almost ready, assuring allocation
would begin before the end of the year.
Fashola urged residents to pay their taxes to enable
government execute more development projects.
NAN reports some of the projects inspected by the
governor in Ikorodu include ongoing expansion of
Ikorodu Road, rehabilitation work on Awolowo Road,
and work on the Igbogbo housing estate. (NAN)
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