Explosion: Niger govt. reads riot act to tanker drivers

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has commiserated with victims of the tanker explosion that occurred at Diko junction in Niger State, along Abuja-Kaduna Highway that left three persons dead, eight injured, nineteen cars destroyed and over thirty five shops razed down.
The Governor who described as unfortunate the incident, said it was heartbreaking to see lives of innocent people lost as a result of the recklessness of an individual.
He decried the activities of tanker and trailer drivers who park illegally by the roadside, and warned that the state government would no longer condone such illegalities.
“It is quite unfortunate that the accident happened. As a government we are pained to see the lives of our people being cut short, especially as a result of recklessness of drivers,” Governor Abubakar Bello said.
“We will enforce all necessary laws with regards to illegal motor parks and other activities on the highways. I have therefore directed that the illegal park where the accident took place and other illegal motor parks and markets in the state be cleared off. We would ensure that our laws are enforced to the latter,” he further stated.
Meanwhile, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has directed the State Emergency Management Agency to take assessment of the accident with a view to ascertaining the level of damages done.
The Director-General of NSEMA, Mr Ibrahim Inga who led other officials of the agency to the scene of the accident said financial assistance would be provided to the victims who were alive to enable them undergo treatment, as an immediate intervention by the state government.
He said the agency would also compile its report and submit to the Governor for further action.