The Guardian (Nigeria)

Fubara Visits Tanker Fire Scene, Promises Support For Victims

•Ogoni Youths Vow To Drag FG , RCC To ICC Over Huge Casualties

- From Ann Godwin, Port

HARCOURT RIVERS State

Governor, Siminalayi­fubara, has described as very unfortunat­e the fire accident that resulted in the death of some motorists and commuters. The incident occurred between Indorama Gate and Aleto Bridge on the popular and ever busy Eleme section of the East-west Road, which is undergoing major reconstruc­tion by the Federal Go vern ment.Fub ara, accompanie­dby the commission­er of Police, Olatunjidi­su, and the Commission­er for Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Uchechukwu Nwafor, expressed sadness at the gory scene he saw. The governor explained that he got a call from the Managing Director of Indorama Petrochemi­cal and Fertiliser Company Limited in Eleme Local Council, informing him of the incident.fubara said: "We are here to see for ourselves and get first hand informatio­n of the incident of what happened yesterday night. "About 7.30 - 8:00pm, we got informatio­n of the gravity of the incident. I was told that it was caused by a tanker vehicle conveying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). "In fact, I got the informatio­n through the MD of Indorama, and I immediatel­y alerted the security agencies to make sure they take control of the security situation in the area."and from what we are seeing this morning, it was not a pleasant case. We recorded a huge number of vehicles being destroyed and lives lost.”fubara explained that he had already requested the relevant government agencies to provide him a detailed account of their findings to enable the state government take appropriat­e decisions and actions to significan­tly remedy the situationa­nd reduce the negative on the affected people. Meanwhile, Ogoni Youth

Federation (OYF) has vowed to drag the Federal Government and the contractor­s handling the road project, Reynolds Constructi­on Company (RCC) to the Internatio­nal Criminal Court (ICC). The group, in a statement by its president, Dr Leg bo rsiy am a ab ana, expressed dismay by the catastroph­ic explosion of a tanker laden with petroleum products on the Ogoni axis of the East-west Road. Yamaabana said: "The devastatin­g incident has resulted in the loss of numerous lives and the destructio­n of properties worth billions of naira.

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