The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed shock, and grief over the unfortunate accident caused by a petroleum tanker explosion last Saturday, at the Diko community in Niger State, leading to several deaths.
ACF said that the incident led to the tragic loss of over 80 persons (and still counting), injuries to scores, property damage, disruptions to livelihoods, and, on a major transport artery, smooth traffic flow.
Spokesman of the group, Professor Tukur Muhammed-Baba, in a statement, said the forum lamented that the tragedy “is coming as it has only a few months after a similar tragedy at Majia, Jigawa State.
“The incident further demonstrates the nation’s grossly inadequate disaster preparedness and management in general and, in particular, the consequence of our people’s ignorance about inherent dangers in the rush to scoop petroleum and or dangerous and inflammable substances at accident scenes.”
“It is indeed tempting to partly attribute the mad rush for the contents of the tanker, to the high price that petroleum products command. However, the reality is that such crass looting of accident vehicles is not a new phenomenon and signals the decline of edifying cultural values that ordinarily dictate the principle of Safety First, Always!”
“In the rush for fast but ephemeral gains, people tend to compromise personal and community safety, let go of humanness, and abdicate responsibilities for extending assistance to of any fellow humans in distress, with tragic but avoidable consequences, as gorily witnessed at Diko.”
ACF said it “commiserates with members of Diko Community, the Zazzau – Suleja Emirate, as well as the Government and people of Niger State over the tragedy. ACF deeply mourns, as it prays for Divine succour to all those affected and for quick recovery from the impact of the incident.”
Meanwhile, the Arewa leaders “commend the prompt response to the incident as shown by of the Niger State Government led by Governor, Muhammad Bago, federal security and other relevant agencies as well as all other public and volunteer first responders.”
The group however called “for the mobilisation of humanitarian relief (food, shelter, medications, etc.) for victims such all affected would return to what normal lives and livelihoods as could be managed under the circumstances.”
ACF called for proactive measures to prevent future occurrences and to mitigate the impact, saying that there must be “a sustained mass, multimedia, and multi-pronged public enlightenment campaigns (to include community leaders, clerics, etc.) to educate and sensitise people on the dangers of petroleum and other inflammable substances”.
The northern group also urged “regulatory and environmental bodies and the security agencies to pay more attention to enforcing laws and safety codes and less on corrupt and extortionist practices on Nigeria roads and highways.”
