…as FRSC applauds Minister for giant strides
- By Nwafor Elizabeth, Yenagoa
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri Ph.D, has called for stronger collaboration between the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and relevant petroleum sector agencies to enhance safety in the transportation of petroleum products. Senator Lokpobiri made this statement during a courtesy visit by the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Mr. Shehu Mohammed, to his office in Abuja.
In his address, Senator Lokpobiri emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing the frequent tanker explosions that pose serious risks to lives and properties across the country. He noted that proactive measures were needed to reduce such incidents to the barest minimum.
“As a government, we are committed to implementing measures that will eliminate or drastically reduce the incessant explosions of petroleum tankers on our roads. The safety of the public is paramount, and we must take concrete steps to achieve that,” the Minister said.
He urged the FRSC to intensify its collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and its key regulatory agencies, such as the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). “I am calling on the FRSC to work closely with our Ministry and agencies like NMDPRA to ensure we achieve the highest safety standards in the transportation of petroleum products. We must collectively address the underlying issues leading to these avoidable accidents,” he stated.
In response, the Corps Marshal, Mr. Shehu Mohammed, commended the Minister for his proactive stance on safety and pledged the FRSC’s commitment to ensuring safer roads. “The FRSC is fully committed to partnering with the Ministry and other stakeholders to safeguard the public. We will continue to implement strategies that ensure the highest levels of safety in the transportation of hazardous goods,” he assured.
Senator Lokpobiri expressed confidence that this partnership between the FRSC and petroleum sector agencies would yield positive results. He also commended the FRSC for its tireless efforts in promoting road safety, stressing that the collaboration would go a long way in preventing future tanker explosions and enhancing public safety.
