Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has expressed deep sorrow following the tragic petrol tanker explosion on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway that claimed over 11 lives on Saturday.
Mbah visited the scene of the incident at Ugwu-Onyeama for an on-the-spot assessment, where he confirmed that the state government had already mobilized resources to ensure the victims receive proper medical care.
The governor revealed that the state was taking proactive measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, including the enforcement of road safety regulations and repairs to the section of the federal road that was in poor condition.
He extended his condolences to the families of the victims, describing the accident as “unfortunate” and pledged that immediate actions would be taken to address the situation.
Governor Mbah directed the Enugu Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Franklin Agbakoba, and the state Commissioner for Transport, Obi Ozor, to ensure that all tankers transporting flammable substances are equipped with anti-spill locks to prevent fuel leaks in the event of an accident.
“This tanker accident, which initial investigations suggest was caused by brake failure, led to the spill of premium motor spirit that ignited and caused the explosion. It’s a tragic incident, and we must get to the bottom of the cause,” Mbah said.
He assured the public that an investigation was underway, involving the police and other law enforcement agencies, to determine the exact cause of the explosion.
In the meantime, Mbah confirmed that the injured victims had been transferred to hospitals for urgent treatment, with state health officials coordinating their care.
The governor expressed that, while waiting for the federal government to address the road repairs, the state government would take immediate steps to fix the affected section of the road to avoid future accidents.
Briefing Mbah on the incident, the FRSC sector commander confirmed that the explosion was caused by the tanker’s brake failure.
He reported that 11 people lost their lives at the scene, with several others injured and rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention.
The sector commander thanked the governor for his swift response, leadership, and commitment to covering the medical expenses for the victims.
