Following the incessant collapse of trucks carrying inflammable petroleum products in Anambra State in recent times, including one in Onitsha on Thursday, the state Government has issued a directive restricting the time vehicles laden with petroleum products could move about in the state.
A statement from the state government signed by the Commissioner for Information Public Enlightenment, Chief C-Don Adinuba, said: “With effect from Saturday, November 2, 2019, such vehicles can be allowed to move within Anambra State from only 8 pm to 5 am.
“The restriction is to enable agencies like the Anambra State Fire Service, the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Civil Defence, Anambra Traffic Management Agency and indeed all other security, law enforcement and safety agencies to respond effectively and in good time to emergencies created by such accidents, which sometimes result in conflagrations, as was the case in Onitsha on Wednesday, October 16, 2019, when a tanker laded with a petroleum product fell on the Enugu-Onitsha Highway and caused a fire that spread up to Ochanga Market through the open drainage.
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“The Anambra State Police Command and all other security agencies have, therefore, been directed to religiously enforce the restriction order on the movement of trucks carrying petroleum products in the state.
“They have also been directed to ensure that such vehicles do not exceed the speed limit of 90 kilometres per hour.”
The statement added: “Any violation of either the time restriction order or the speed limit will be punished accordingly. The protection of the life and asset of every person in Anambra State cannot be compromised.
“All stakeholders, including oil marketers, workers, tanker drivers and indeed concerned persons in the downstream oil sector are urged to bear with the state and adhere to this regulation, which is made strictly in the overriding public interest.”
