The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), has called for an investigation into the cause of the oil tanker explosion that occurred along Eleme Road in Rivers on April 26.
Mr Ilochi Nnamdi, the Second Mate of the Olympus Marino Deck, NAS, made the call on Thursday at a news briefing in Port Harcourt.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the explosion claimed the lives of scores of persons, and caused the loss of property worth millions of Naira.
Nnamdi also alleged that the incident, which was preventable, was caused by the deplorable state of the road and the congestion caused at a nearby police checkpoint.
According to him, the poorly maintained Eleme-Onne Expressway has long been a cause for concern, with its potholes and uneven surfaces creating hazardous conditions for motorists.
The group also called on the relevant arms of government at the State and Federal levels to expedite action on the ongoing repair works or reconstruction of the road.
The group urged the relevant agencies and stakeholders to immediately begin an investigation to determine the cause of the incident to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
It further urged relevant stakeholders to ensure that the police checkpoints on the Eleme axis provide improved traffic management and road safety measures.
“There should be evaluation of the safety standards and practices of tanker operators to ensure compliance with regulations and to identify any areas for improvement in the transportation of hazardous materials,”the group said.
It urged the stakeholders to assess the mitigating impact if an effective emergency firefighting system were located around or along the Eleme-Onne Road since heavy-duty inflammable substance-carrying vehicles used that road daily and frequently.
“The Olympus Marino Deck further demands for urgent need for improved emergency response systems that are required to ensure rapid and effective response to accidents. This includes situating a fire service station around and along that road to be manned by adequately trained personnel.
“The increase in regulatory oversight to ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations by all stakeholders, including tanker operators and road maintenance agencies. Safety protocols should also be established to manage traffic flow and prevent congestion near such checkpoints.
“There should be launch of public awareness campaigns to educate motorists about safe driving practices and the importance of adhering to traffic regulations,” the group said.
(NAN)
