The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has requested the Federal Road Safety Corps to take more effective action in order to ensure smooth traffic flow on the busy Eleme axis of the East-West Road, Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The party mentioned that the recent tanker explosion, which resulted in loss of life and damage to several cars, could have been prevented. They suggested that the FRSC and the Eleme Local Government work together to address the issue of trucks parking in double lines due to heavy traffic on the road.
During a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Friday, State APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, made the appeal.
He commented, “In my role as the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Rivers State, I want to express our deepest apologies for the recent tanker fire incident in Eleme last Friday.
“Eleme, a local government in Rivers State, is home to both multinational and local companies in the state and Nigeria. Eleme can be described as an industrial hub of Nigeria, with the Nigeria Ports Authority situated in Onne, one of the nearby communities.
“As you have witnessed, the scene was extremely distressing. It was reported that two trucks were attempting to outdo each other, leading to the problem that caused the fire.”
Okocha also mentioned that President Bola Tinubu, as a compassionate individual, had expressed his hope that the tragedy had never occurred and offered condolences to the affected families and individuals who lost property in the explosion.
“As a political party led by a compassionate leader, the President, he wished that this incident had never happened. However, since we are only human, it has happened.
“I join the Minister of Works and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, our leader in Rivers State, in expressing my support and condolences on behalf of Mr. President, who has also visited the site.
“Our hearts go out to those who were unintentionally affected. We pray that God's mercy and grace will help them through this difficult time and lift them up again,” he added.
However, he raised concerns about the behavior of motorists, particularly truck drivers, who are always in a rush and competing with each other, emphasizing the need to address such conduct.
“People want to go fast without following the rules. The roads are not completely blocked. If the Federal Government had decided to completely close the road due to road construction, people would have criticized them for being unfair.
“Yet, they still allow access for a reason. People should follow the rules and allow others to pass. At certain points on that road, you will see trucks parked, possibly to load or unload goods from the Indorama Petrochemical Company.
“The FRSC needs to take proactive measures to prevent what is known as incorrect parking. When vehicles double park, it hinders movement. Therefore, both the federal government through the FRSC and the local government should be proactive in order to prevent such a tragedy from happening again,” he added.
