The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has assured the victims of the Ibadan tanker fire accident that the Federal Government will provide intervention to help them bounce back.
This is coming even as the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (Oyo SEMA) promised to carry out thorough fumigation of the accident scene as well as total evacuation of the relics of the fire before the end of next week.
Recall that on Thursday, a 33,000 litre fuel laden tanker fell on the Sawmill bridge of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, spilling all its content.
In the ensuing inferno, atleast three persons were confirmed dead while three vehicles and about ten motorcycles were burnt to ashes.
The Acting Director General, NEMA, Air Commodore Akugbe Iyanmu speaking during an on the spot assessment of the accident scene lamented the rising case of fire accident which he said had led to avoidable deaths of innocent citizens.
Accompanied by NEMA Zonal Coordinator, the State Director, Oyo State Emergency Management Agency, Director, Oyo State Fire Service, the NEMA boss assures that the victims, as Nigerians deserve the support from the government through the agency.
He said, “We were informed of the incident by our Zonal Coordinator and we also read about it in the news and what the DG emphasised is that anywhere the Nigerian life is threatened and needs humanitarian support, we have to be there.
“So, he directed that we move here immediately to see the extent of the crisis, the people affected, the victims and see how the agency can respond.
“Assessing the needs of the victims now will be premature, there are relevant agencies including fire service and state emergency agency among others involved, they all will come up with their reports, then we will all put heads together and look at it because it is becoming too frequent and the lives of our brothers and sisters are been lost in avoidable deaths.
So, we really have to give maximum attention to it.
“As we await the reports from the zone, I can assure you that the intervention will come as soon as possible. In fact, if we can get the reports today, we will intervene today, but we will have to wait for the normal procedures to be followed.
“The DG always emphasis that the intervention must always get to the real victims and that is what we want to do and we have to be careful. The National Emergency Management Agency is for Nigerians and all the victims of the fire incident are Nigerians and there is no way they won’t get intervention.”
Credit: The Nation
