The Lagos State Government have moved to stop petroleum tanker explosion and accident on Lagos roads as they are currently developing strategies that will address these problems.
This was made known by the Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Olalere Odusote, in Lagos while speaking during a stakeholders’ forum held with participants from the Oil and Gas transportation sector, themed: “Sanitising Lagos State Roads of Petroleum Tanker Explosions and Accidents.”
Odusote stated that the Ministry has set up a working committee to develop a legal framework adding that the exercise is being undertaken in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice and will take cognisance of existing Physical Planning, Environmental and Safety Laws in Lagos State to address the issue.
What the Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources is saying
The Commissioner said the working committee, which comprises of representatives of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigeria Liquified Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA), Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NLPGAM) and other relevant stakeholders in the LPG sector, was formed to develop an integrated checklist for safety audit on LPG installations in order to entrench safe and ethical practices in the LPG sector.
Odusote said, “The committee will also develop operational audit checks for LPG plants/facilities and ensure there is a certification process for storage tanks and trucks in the State. The regulations and standards have been put in place to guide the operations and haulage of petroleum products in Lagos.’’
He explained that the forum was convened to come up with additional channels, policies, regulation improvement and laws for safe transportation of petroleum products in Lagos, noting that DPR is currently collaborating with Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to check haulage permits of tankers conveying petroleum products.
He assured that the State Government will come up with regulations and laws to enhance operations in the transportation sector as well as increase safety and safe operations.
Odusote expressed concerns over the significant increase in tanker explosion recently and noted that the recommendations of the forum will be considered to end tanker accidents on Lagos roads.
Bottomline
There has been several cases of tanker explosion in Lagos State in recent times with some heavy casualty figure.
The move by the state government to prevent such incidents from occurring to help prevent the destruction of some infrastructure in the state as well as ultimately save lives, is a welcome development.
It is also very important that the government finds alternative mode of transporting the petroleum products.
