Negligence of the Delta State Government towards fixing bad portions of the Asaba/Benin express may be putting the lives of Deltans at risk.
This is as failed portions of the road has caused several accidents that have claimed many lives.
Most recent was the incident of a fallen tanker that was laden with petrol at Aku-Ufu Junction axis of the road, directly opposite Sir Walks Motor Park, Asaba the state capital where some residents defied possible explosion to scoop petroleum product from the scene of the fallen tanker.
It was gathered that the incident occurred at about 8:00pm on Monday night September 9, 2024, as the petrol laden tanker overturned just after alighting from the flyover heading from Benin to Onitsha due to the bad portions of the road while the driver was trying to navigate his way through the bad spots before it fell on the road.
It was further gathered that some residents stormed the scene with buckets, gallons and other available containers to scoop fuel from the tanker.
A phone accessory seller who narrated the incident, said he saw residents of the areas scooping fuel while some others including tricycle operators, drivers and fuel attendants at the filling station close to the scene scampered for safety for fear of explosion.
An eyewitness account revealed that personnel of the State Fire Service responded very early to condole off the place while their fire fighting equipment were stationed to battle possible fire occurrence.
It was also learnt that the presence of the Fire Fighters, dispelled some residents who were still scooping fuel when they arrived.
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As at the time of this report, the driver of the tanker was nowhere to be found after the tanker fell, although some persons were seen around the fallen tanker this morning, Tuesday 10, 2024 while the fire service equipment belonging to the State was still on ground monitoring the situation.
The scene has caused heavy gridlock on the road as drivers coming from Benin, Summit, Ibusa and Koka end of the road finds it difficult to go through the road following the deplorable State of the road.
Meanwhile, some residents have blamed the State government for allowing that portion of the road to remain the way it is under claims that it is a federal road.
They lamented the negligence of the State government to fix or embark remedial work on federal roads that pass through the State.
They said if not for the timely intervention of the Fire Service Personnel, all the government knows how to do is to mourn victims of such disasters.
On October 1, 2023, no fewer than six persons, vehicles and tankers, were set ablaze, following a tanker explosion at Koko junction, along Warri – Benin expressway.
