'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER – The Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has pledged his ministry’s commitment to partnering with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to promote safer roads across Nigeria. This assurance was made during a courtesy visit by the Corps Marshal of FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, to the Minister's office in Abuja on Monday, October 14, 2024.
According to a statement today by the Corp's spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, during the meeting, Senator Lokpobiri congratulated the Corps Marshal on his recent appointment and expressed confidence that the ongoing collaboration between stakeholders would enhance safety on the nation’s highways. He highlighted the recent inauguration of the National Road Safety Strategy by the Vice President, emphasizing that it would provide a framework for coordinated efforts in achieving road safety goals. The Minister lauded the FRSC's dedication to reducing road accidents through initiatives such as the Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme, driver certification programs, and public enlightenment campaigns, all of which have led to a significant drop in road traffic crashes.
However, Senator Lokpobiri voiced concerns about the recurrent road accidents involving petroleum tankers, many of which result in deadly fires and massive property damage. He acknowledged that while using pipelines for transporting petroleum products would be a safer alternative, the high costs and current hazards involved in pipeline transportation make it an impractical solution for now. As a result, he called on the FRSC to intensify efforts to regulate the activities of tanker drivers at petroleum depots, ensuring that only tankers that meet minimum safety standards are allowed to load petroleum products.
The Minister further expressed the Ministry’s readiness to support the FRSC through the provision of logistics and training, aimed at boosting the capacity of the agency’s personnel to effectively manage road traffic. This partnership, he noted, is critical to minimizing accidents involving petroleum transporters and improving overall road safety in Nigeria.
In his response, the Corps Marshal praised the Minister for the ongoing reforms in Nigeria's petroleum industry under his leadership, particularly in fostering peace in the Niger Delta region. He highlighted FRSC’s commitment to road safety, revealing that the Corps has deployed personnel to major petroleum depots nationwide to ensure strict adherence to safety regulations, especially under the “Safe to Load” policy. Marshal Shehu Mohammed also requested the Minister's assistance with logistics, including patrol vehicles and ambulances, to facilitate better road surveillance and quicker response to emergencies.
The meeting, attended by senior officials from both the Ministry of Petroleum and the FRSC, concluded with both parties affirming their commitment to sustained cooperation in enhancing road safety and ensuring stability in the transportation of petroleum products across the country.