The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned Nigerians to stop scooping fuel from crashed trucks loaded with petrol products.
The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, gave this warning while addressing newsmen on Monday in Abuja on its recently concluded Operation Zero Tolerance.
He expressed alarm over the rising number of collisions and fatalities, especially the rate of deaths during the removal of petroleum products from crashed tankers.
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Mohammed explained that fallen tankers were the reason for the rise in fatalities in 2024. He said that the situation was worrisome, especially, in cases of deaths as a result of scooping of petroleum products from crashed tankers in Niger and Jigawa states.
He 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.
According to him, five landmark crashes defined the number of road traffic crashes, fatalities, and injuries recorded between December 15, 2024, and January 15. He said;
These were Jing, Shendam in Plateau State on December 20, 2024, which killed 11 people, and Bende-Ohafia route in Abia State on December 22, 2024, which 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 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.
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Mohammed said that the data indicated that those 37 crashes alone resulted in the death of 247 persons which constituted 39% of the total deaths recorded within the period. He added;
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
The FRSC boss, however, maintained that the Corps was committed to achieving its mandate through compliance with the presidential directives.
He said the Corps would collaborate with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in sensitising 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, however, appealed to passengers to avoid boarding trailers and trucks meant for goods either during daytime or night trips due to the inherent dangers.
In this beginning year 2025, I wish to caution motorists and travellers to avoid excessive speed and overloading as much as possible.
Management will also continue to motivate staff through enhanced welfare packages.
It is also expected that our effort at capacity building would provide the required skills and professionalism needed for enhanced productivity.
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