By Anwar Usman
Vice President Kashim Shettima sympathized with the victims and government of Enugu State over the fuel tanker fire which claimed lives in the state.
He added that it is time to bring an end to avoidable tanker accidents and explosions.
The fuel tanker had on Saturday skewed off course and burst into flames along the Ugwu-Onyeama section of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.
In his condolence message to those who lost their lives and injured, signed by the spokesperson to the vice president Stanley Nkwocha, the vice president noted that President Bola Tinubu was very concerned and disturbed by the incident and other tanker explosions in recent times.
He said, “It was with a heart full of sadness that I received news of the fuel tanker explosion that occurred on Saturday, January 25, 2025, in Ugwu Onyeama Local Government Area of Enugu State. I am deeply saddened that another tanker accident would lead to the loss of lives of Nigerians, leaving others injured in the gory incident.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is seriously worried by the frequency of these tanker explosion incidents on public roads and residential areas, which are ordinarily avoidable. Just as he has directed the relevant agencies in his message of condolence on Sunday, I want to reassure Nigerians that the government will stop at nothing to put an end to tanker accidents on our roads”.
The vice president promised that following Mr President’s directive, the government will engage relevant agencies, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on possible ways the road traffic authorities, as well as federal and state transportation ministries can cooperate to urgently forestall further tanker accidents and explosions across the country.