The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) says it is close to reaching decisions on alternative means of transporting petroleum products around Nigeria.
This is as the Forum commiserated with the Rivers State people over the Onne Road tanker inferno of Friday April 26, 2024.
The Forum said that discussions were advancing among the 36 State governors and strategic federal agencies in the oil and gas industry over the adoption of safer methods of transportation of petroleum products across the country.
Chairman of the forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, gave the hint on Sunday in Government House, Port Harcourt, when he visited to commiserate with Gov Siminalayi Fubara, the people and Government of Rivers State over the Friday night’s tanker inferno which claimed the lives of five persons and razed over 120 vehicles on the Indorama-Aleto bridge axis of the East-West Road in Eleme Local Government Area.
AbdulRazaq recalled a similar carnage in Ogun State that impacted lives, which he said was caused by a tanker conveying compressed natural gas (CNG).
Governor AbdulRazaq described what happened in Rivers State as a huge loss, and said his meeting with Governor Fubara availed them the opportunity to have peer review discussions over the recurring decimal.
“We have peer review discussions over it. And similar incident happened in Ogun State as well, which you are aware of, and that’s a CNG tanker, Rivers State was petrol tanker,” he said.
Governor AbdulRazaq also said: “We also spoke with the Head of the Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency, and there will be a review of some laws. There will also be engagement between the Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency and State Agencies in terms of ensuring health and safety on these issues.
“As you know, Nigeria relies a lot, virtually, on pipelines for the movement of petroleum products, and we need to strengthen regulations in that sector, and also emphasize on improving and expanding pipelines for the transportation of products as well,” the NGF chairman added.
