Taraba and Adamawa States key stakeholders in the petroleum and transport sectors are calling for urgent government intervention to improve road conditions and reduce the number of highway checkpoints, which they say contribute significantly to deadly accidents.
The appeal was made in Jalingo during a high-level sensitization campaign organized by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), targeting the root causes of frequent tanker-related fire outbreaks in the region.
Alhaji Dahiru Modibbo, Chairman of the Taraba State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), decried the hazards posed by poor roads and the excessive presence of security checkpoints along major transport routes. He emphasized that these issues not only delay transportation but also increase the risk of mechanical failure and crashes involving fuel-laden tankers.
Modibbo commended NEMA’s initiative, noting that tanker drivers and transport workers are often the direct victims of such incidents. He called on the Federal Government to treat road infrastructure repairs as a national emergency to save lives and property.
Reinforcing the urgency, Alhaji Ahmed Isa of the National Association of Transport Owners (NATO) urged Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State to expedite the construction of a trailer park in Jalingo. He explained that the absence of a proper rest stop forces truck drivers to park on highways, creating dangerous bottlenecks and increasing the chances of fire outbreaks in densely populated areas.
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Speaking on behalf of NEMA, Director-General Hajia Zubaida Umar described the sensitization campaign as a crucial step in raising awareness about the human and environmental toll of tanker explosions. Represented by Mr. Giwa Kurutsi, Head of Search and Rescue at NEMA’s Yola Operations Office, Umar highlighted the importance of proactive safety measures, community engagement, and coordinated emergency responses.
She disclosed that the campaign will include hands-on workshops, public awareness drives, and simulation drills to equip stakeholders with the knowledge needed to manage and prevent fire incidents effectively.
Mr. Yakubu Fungus, Assistant Controller of the Federal Fire Service in Taraba, also addressed the gathering, stressing the need for tanker drivers to comply with safety protocols and traffic regulations at all times. He assured residents of the fire service’s preparedness to respond rapidly to emergencies but cautioned that prevention must be the first line of defense.
As accidents involving fuel tankers continue to claim lives and damage communities, the unified voice of industry leaders, government agencies, and safety experts signals a renewed push for systemic change in Nigeria’s transportation and emergency management sectors.