Tanker Accident: VP Commiserates With Victims … As FRSC Admonishes Tanker Drivers

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has commiserated with the people and government of Anambra over the tanker accident, which claimed 69 lives at Upper Iweka in Onitsha.
Osinbajo, who visited the scene of the accident and the injured at Toronto Hospital last Wednesday, said President Muhammadu Buhari was “very concerned and pained’’ by the incident.
He said that Mr President felt it was not enough to send a condolence message and as such asked him to come and commiserate with the people.
Osinbajo told a crowd that gathered around Upper Iweka, scene of the accident, that he had been discussing with Governor Willie Obiano possible ways the Federal Government and Anambra Government could cooperate to forestall further accident.
He commended Obiano for undertaking to settle the hospital bills of the victims.
Earlier, while briefing the vice-president, Obiano said Anambra Government had banned long trucks and petrol tankers from plying roads in Anambra during the day.
The governor said that government had banned heavy duty vehicles from plying state roads, adding that they must trans-load their cargoes on getting to state roads.
Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has cautioned petroleum products’ tanker drivers to be more careful on the highways, to curb the spate of crashes associated with them.
The acting Commander, Benin Zonal Command of FRSC, Mr Crawford Otti, gave the admonition on Wednesday in Akwa, Anambra State.
Otti, who was on a working visit to Awka Sector of FRSC, commiserated with the command over the recent petrol tanker accident and inferno in Onitsha which claimed many lives.
He led the regular and special marshals in the command in one minute silence in honour of the departed souls in the Onitsha tragedy.
The FRSC official cautioned motorists to be more cautious and see the FRSC as partners in the safe traffic business.
Otti lauded the officers in the Anambra command and urged them not to rest on their oars.
In his remark, the Awka Sector Commander,  Mr Sunday Ajayi, said the command was healthy and effective.
He said his sector had set up a reward and punishment mechanism to motivate officers for greater productivity.