The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has called for enhanced safety measures in the transportation of petroleum products following a tragic petrol tanker explosion in Majiya Town, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State. Lokpobiri, accompanied by officials from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), visited the site of the incident to express condolences to the government and people of Jigawa State.
In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Nneamaka Okafor, Lokpobiri urged citizens to avoid approaching such incidents, highlighting the importance of public safety. “It is crucial for public safety. The Federal Government is committed to minimizing such occurrences, and our collaboration with NMDPRA and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) will ensure safer roads for Nigerians,” he stated.
The minister’s visit began with a meeting at the Government House in Dutse, where he met with Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi. During this meeting, Lokpobiri conveyed the Federal Government’s sympathy for the lives lost in the explosion and emphasized the need for stricter safety protocols in the transportation of petroleum products.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, I extend our deepest condolences to the government and people of Jigawa State. This tragic incident highlights the necessity of ensuring that only licensed and certified drivers are allowed to transport petroleum products,” Lokpobiri added.
He also revealed that he had recently engaged with the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Mr. Shehu Mohammed, to establish a partnership aimed at enforcing stricter regulations regarding the certification of tanker drivers.
