Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has warned Nigerians to stop scooping fuel from crashed tankers loaded with petrol product.
The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, gave this warning while addressing journalists in Abuja, on its recently concluded Operation Zero Tolerance.
Mohammed lamented the rising number of collisions and fatalities, especially the rate of deaths during removal of petroleum products from crashed tankers.
He explained that fallen tankers were the reason for the rise in fatalities in 2024.
According to him, the situation is worrisome, especially in cases of fatalities as a result of scooping of petroleum products from crashed tankers in Niger and Jigawa States.
The corps marshall identified conveyance of persons in haulage vehicles, overloading of persons, conveying petroleum products in passenger vehicles and fatigue as causes of three deaths and above per crash threshold.
He pointed out that five land mark crashes defined the number of road traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries recorded between December 15, 2024 and January 15.
“These were Jing, Shendam in Plateau State on December 20, 2024 that killed 11 people, Bende-Ohafia route in Abia State on December 22, 2024 that also killed 11 people.
“Another one was December 25, 2024 on the Kaduna-Abuja expressway that killed eight passengers and that of Jebba, Kwara State, on December 26, 2024 which claimed 30 lives, as well as that of Owo-Ikare route before Ose bridge on December 28, 2024 that led to the death of 13 passengers.
“These five land mark crashes were the most fatal out of the 37 critical crashes that killed three persons or more; and that accounted for seven percent of the total crashes recorded during the period,” he said.
Mohammed said data indicated that the 37 crashes alone resulted in the death of 247 persons which constituted 39 percent of the total deaths recorded within 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.
Mohammed, however, maintained that the corps is committed to achieving its mandate through compliance with the presidential directives.
He said the corps would collaborate with the National Orientation Agency, NOA, to sensitise the public on the dangers of scooping fuel from crashed tankers.
Mohammed stressed that the corps would meet with stakeholders, particularly petroleum tanker unions to proffer lasting solutions to the incessant crashes involving tanker drivers.
He appealed to passengers to avoid boarding trailers and trucks meant for goods either during daytime or night trips due to the inherent dangers.
“This year, I wish to caution motorists and travelers to avoid excessive speed and overloading as much as possible.
“Management will continue to motivate staff through enhanced welfare packages.
“It is also expected that our efforts at capacity building would provide the required skills and professionalism needed for enhanced productivity,” Mohammad, stated.
