Kogi State in the Republic of Nigeria has declared a two-day state-wide mourning in honour of the victims of the Felele tanker accident which claimed about 23 lives last Wednesday.
A statement released by State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo urged all residents to be in “deep sober reflection and stand together for one another to pull out of the agonizing loss.
“Government wishes to reiterate the call on road users to act responsibly in order to avert unfortunate situations that simple care and caution could have averted. Full investigations will also be carried out to determine the causes of the painful incident.
Nigeria: Tanker Explosion Leaves 25 People Dead, Others Injured
“We also call on relevant Federal Government agencies to provide relief materials to support what the state government shall be providing. Our hearts are with the affected families. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” he added.
It would be recalled that energynewsafrica.com reported last Wednesday that a tanker loaded with 33,000 litres of petrol had a brake failure, eventually crashing, at least, three tricycles and two motorcycles at Lokoja in Central Nigeria, West Africa.
A family of five and some pupils were among 23 people killed in the explosion that followed the collision.
The Kogi State Polytechnic, on Thursday, declared three days’ lecture free in honour of staff and students of the school who were affected by the explosion.
The polytechnic’s Head, Public Relations and Protocol Unit, Uredo Omale told reporters that the decision was reached at an emergency meeting of the institution.
“A vital decision at the meeting was the setting up of a committee to do a careful and thorough identity check of members of staff and students affected by the inferno with a view to ascertaining the nature and level of damage done to them.
“The committee, chaired by the Dean, School of Art, Design and Printing, Mr Pedro Peter Akande, immediately, swang into action, and has, so far, reported that three members of staff sustained injuries in the incident,” she added.
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, in a condolence message issued in Benin, said the explosion was an urgent reminder of the need to prioritise road and rail infrastructure development in the country.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com