The Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone, has expressed deep condolences to the victims of the recent petroleum tanker fire incident at Ugbenu, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.
He, therefore, called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to take immediate action in fixing the deplorable sections of the Benin-Warri highway.
Recall that the tragic incident occurred in the early hours of October 1, 2023, along the Warri – Benin Road at Ugbenu Koko Junction, claiming five lives, according to the police report, with properties worth several millions of Naira lost in the avoidable incident.
The Delta Central lawmaker while reiterating the call for the federal government to expedite action on fixing failed portions of major highways in Delta State, noted that the incident would have been avoided if not for the bad spot on the road which caused the tanker loaded with PMS to fall and spill its contents.
He decried the untold hardship commuters face on the Warri-Benin road daily, spending close to five hours on the road on a journey that shouldn’t last for about an hour due to the deplorable state of the road.
He noted that many hours lost daily to traffic on Warri-Benin road because of the bad state of the road, the only major road connecting the two states of the Niger Delta region is taking a huge toll on economic activities and the social life of our people who daily journey through that route.
According to reports, a tanker laden with PMS fell at the Ugbenu Koko Junction, spilling its contents into a nearby swamp. The spillage attracted a group of youths who began scooping the fuel into jerry cans and other containers.
Tragically, an explosion occurred, engulfing the area in flames. The resulting fire consumed the fallen tanker and caused extensive damage to numerous vehicles including buses, trailers, motorcycles, and private cars.
“The Ugbenu fire incident is a devastating tragedy that has claimed the lives of five individuals and caused significant damage to properties, this is very unfortunate.
“My heart goes out to the families who lost their loved ones and to all those affected by this unfortunate event. We must come together as a community to provide support and assistance to those who have suffered such immense loss.”
“The loss of lives and destruction of properties in this incident are deeply distressing. We must prioritize the safety and well-being of our citizens by ensuring that our roads are in a good state,” Senator Dafinone emphasized.
“I call on the federal government and other relevant agencies to expedite action in addressing the issue of bad roads, particularly the Warri – Benin Road, to prevent future tragedies like this from occurring.
“The poor state of Warri-Benin road needs emergency attention, our people have been subjected to untold hardship since the only access road connecting the Niger Delta got bad.
“A journey that takes about an hour from Warri to Benin, now takes an average of 4 to 5 hours or more, this has affected economic activities on this corridor and if urgent steps are not taken to fix this road, the entire Niger Delta would be cut off from other parts of the country.
“As your representative at the National Assembly, we will continue to bring the attention of the Government to the urgent need for road infrastructure improvements and the allocation of resources to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“I will continue to engage with relevant authorities and advocate for the necessary measures to be taken to ensure the safety of our citizens on the roads,” Senator Dafinone affirmed.
“We owe it to the memory of the victims of the Ugbenu fire incident and to the community at large to make our roads safer and more reliable.”
Senator Ede Dafinone encourages members of the public to remain vigilant and adhere to safety precautions, particularly when encountering accidents or incidents involving hazardous materials, and also avoid the temptation of scooping fuel.
He urges individuals to report any road hazards promptly and to support the ongoing efforts to improve road infrastructure for the benefit of all.
