Vice President Condemns Fuel Tanker Fire In Enugu, Calls For End To Accidents

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday expressed sympathy to the people and government of Enugu over the deadly fuel tanker fire caused by an accident. He called for an end to preventable tanker accidents and explosions.

The fire occurred over the weekend when the tanker veered off the road and caught fire along the Ugwu-Onyeama section of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

"It was with a heart full of sadness that I received news of the fuel tanker explosion that occurred on Saturday, January 25, 2025, in Ugwu Onyeama local government area of Enugu State," he said, as per the official State House statement.

He added, "I am deeply saddened that another tanker accident would lead to the loss of lives of Nigerians, leaving others injured in the gory incident. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is seriously worried by the frequency of these tanker explosion incidents on public roads and residential areas, which are ordinarily avoidable."

Shettima said Tinubu has instructed the relevant agencies to take action, and reassured Nigerians that the government will do everything possible to stop these tanker accidents on the roads.

The vice president assured that following the president's directive, the government will work with relevant agencies, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), to find ways the authorities and transport ministries can cooperate to prevent more tanker accidents and explosions.

He expressed his condolences to the people of Enugu, especially the families who lost loved ones and those receiving treatment for their injuries. He offered his thoughts and prayers, asking for eternal rest for the deceased and a speedy recovery for the injured.

Just one day ahead of Shettima, Tinubu on Sunday expressed his condolences and instructed traffic control agencies to implement additional safety measures to prevent future tanker explosions.

He also instructed agencies responsible for enforcing traffic rules to take action to prevent fuel tanker explosions from happening again across the country.

This incident in Enugu occurred just days after a similar explosion in Niger State that killed over 80 people. Tinubu offered his condolences to the families of the victims and the injured, praying for the souls of the deceased to rest in peace and for a swift recovery for those receiving medical care.