Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed deep sadness and frustration over the recent tanker fire incident that claimed multiple lives and destroyed numerous vehicles. While visiting the scene alongside law enforcement officials, the Governor remarked with a touch of sarcasm, “We joke too much with lives in this country, just too much.”
“I have already asked the relevant agencies to give us a full brief so that we can come into the situation fully by seeing to how much we can support the bereaved families, and also cushion the effect of the losses, which I believe, is no fault of a good number of them.
“We all know the situation of this road. It is really unfortunate. Most of our people, when plying this road, should ply it with caution.
Fubara acknowledged that the accident occurred on a section of the East-West Road notorious for its poor condition and ongoing reconstruction. He emphasized, however, that the tragedy could have been avoided if drivers had exercised more caution.
The Governor emphasized the need for a swift response, stating, “I have already requested relevant agencies to provide a detailed report so that we can offer support to the bereaved families and mitigate the impact of this avoidable disaster.”
Fubara’s statement underscores the ongoing problem of tanker accidents in Nigeria, often exacerbated by reckless driving and inadequate road infrastructure. His call for prioritizing lives serves as a stark reminder of the human cost associated with such incidents.