The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has urged Nigerians to refrain from scooping fuel from crashed trucks carrying petrol products.
Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, issued this advice while discussing the recently concluded Operation Zero Tolerance.
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He expressed concern over the increasing number of accidents and fatalities, particularly the rise in deaths linked to the removal of petroleum products from crashed tankers.
Mohammed noted that the increase in fatalities in 2024 was primarily due to the presence of fallen tankers on the roads.
He described the situation as troubling, especially in cases of fatalities resulting from the scooping of petroleum products from crashed tankers in Niger and Jigawa states.
Fatal Tanker Accidents
He fingered the transportation of people in haulage vehicles, overloading, carrying petroleum products in passenger vehicles and driver fatigue as enablers of mass deaths when accidents occur.
He disclosed that five major crashes marked the number of road traffic accidents, fatalities and injuries recorded from December 15, 2024, to January 15.
“These were Jing, Shendam in Plateau State on Dec. 20, 2024, that killed 11 people, Bende-Ohafia route in Abia State on Dec. 22, 2024, that also killed 11 people.
“Another one was Dec. 25, 2024, on the Kaduna-Abuja expressway that killed eight passengers and that of Jebba, Kwara State, on Dec. 26, 2024, which claimed 30 lives as well as that of Owo-Ikare route before Ose bridge on Dec. 28, 2024, that led to the death of 13 passengers.
“These five landmark crashes were the most fatal crashes out of the 37 critical crashes that killed 3 persons or more; and that accounted for seven per cent of the total crashes recorded during the period,” he said.
Mohammed explained that the data showed that the 37 crashes alone led to the deaths of 247 people, making up 39 percent of all fatalities during the period.
“The 2024 end of the year special patrol recorded fatalities is alarming and unacceptable. Therefore, it is obvious that the crashes were as a result of human errors,” he said.
Action Plan to Reduce Fatalities
The FRSC chief assured that the Corps remained dedicated to fulfilling its mandate by adhering to presidential directives.
He said the Corps would collaborate with the National Orientation Agency to educate the public on the dangers of scooping fuel from crashed tankers.
Mohammed emphasized that the Corps would engage with stakeholders, especially petroleum tanker unions, to find lasting solutions to the recurring crashes involving tanker drivers.
He also urged passengers to avoid boarding trucks or trailers meant for goods, whether during the day or night, due to the inherent risks.
Crediblenewsng.com
