Victims of tanker explosions get state’s monetary succour

IT was naira rain in Lagos on Tuesday as the state government doled out N30 million to 243 victims of recent Iyana-Ipaja and Egbe-Idimu tanker explosions.

Of the Iyana Ipaja incident, which occurred on June 1, 2015, about 76 persons were listed for financial assistance. Seven landlords got N500,000 each; 64 shop-owners got N150,000 each, while five tricycle operators received N50,000 each in compensation.

In Egbe-Idimu incident, five days after the Iyana-Ipaja explosion, a total of the 369 victims, including children, were accounted for, out of which 167 are adults. The 167 adults were presented with the sum of N100,000 each yesterday.

The state government distributed cheques to all beneficiaries at the Igando Rehabilitation Centre, Igando, describing it as the fulfillment of promise governor Akinwunmi Ambode had made to victims in the wake of the incidents.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, urged the beneficiaries to utilise the government’s widow’s mite and return home to rehabilitate themselves as much as they could.

It would be recalled that a diesel-laden tanker exploded in Idimu area of Lagos in the early hours of June 6, razing no fewer than 34 houses and 70 shops. Five days before, a petrol tanker had exploded in Iyana-Ipaja overnight, razing over 40 shops, seven houses and scores of vehicles.

In a related development, a Committee set up by Ambode to examine the immediate and remote causes of the tanker disasters witnessed last month has submitted its report.

The Committee, chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Tunji Bello, presented its report to the Governor on Tuesday at the Lagos House, Alausa Ikeja.

It would be recalled that Governor Ambode in the wake of the Iyana Ipaja and Idimu petrol tanker explosion set up a fact finding committee with a charge on them to prepare guidelines for ethical conduct for tanker drivers, who were found culpable in the unfortunate incidents.

The committee was also expected to engage the insurance industry and work out appropriate policies expected to protect residents of the state from havoc in future tanker incidences in the state.

In the report, the Committee made far-reaching recommendations to the Governor on how to prevent reoccurrence of such disasters in future.

Receiving the report, Ambode promised to work on the recommendations, saying the state government would take necessary steps to protect the lives and property of its citizenry.