Ogun, FRSC trade blames over tanker accident

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has denied culpability for last week’s fatal tanker accident at the old Tollgate, Sango, Ogun State, which led to the death of two people, and destruction of 17 vehicles, among other property.
 
Ogun State Sector Commander, Clement Oladele, who was reacting to a statement credited to the state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Kunle Somorin, where the FRSC was accused of causing the accident, said the “area is a black spot, which has claimed 33 lives in the last five years.”
 
Oladele said considering the strategic nature of corridors in Ogun, as a gateway state, with 40 percent of the 380,000 vehicles being articulated vehicles, especially trucks and tankers, coupled with ongoing massive road construction projects sites, the state no doubt records road traffic crashes and fatalities that have assumed a worrisome dimension. He said the accident and other crashes would have been prevented if simple safety practices were strictly adhered to.
 
“From the findings of the crash investigation, there is a great suspicion that the burnt tanker, which bore the colours and markings of MRS Petroleum, might belong to a Major Oil Marketer in Nigeria. Even though the tanker got burnt, but a diligent investigation by the professional FRSC Crash Investigators showed the markings and colours on the burnt tanker.
 
“According to the Crash Investigation Report, despite investigation being hampered over the disappearance of the driver of the ill- fated truck and the removal of the truck’s plate number, which would have easily tracked the vehicle to the registered owner, the FRSC was not deterred. The Corps had explored other insignias found from the burnt truck to identify and track the owners,” he said.
 
The Sector Commander said a manhunt had been mounted for the arrest of the tanker’s driver to facilitate prosecution and pressing for compensation for victims.Oladele said the Crash Investigation Report put loss from the crash at over N269m.