Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has announced a N28 million relief package to the families of the victims of last weekend fire disaster caused by a petrol tanker at Tegina in Rafi Local Government area of the state.
The Governor disclosed the cash assistance when he paid a condolence visit to survivors and families of the victims of the inferno that claimed 19 lives, many injured and property destroyed in the early hours of Saturday.
Governor Sani Bello said that even though the cash assistance can not bring back those who had lost their lives to the inferno, he said that gesture was to provide them with succour on their livelihood as well as help those whose houses and business premises were burnt down.
He added that measures would be taken to ensure that future occurrence to such disasters were averted, noting that the town has been prone to explosions from tanker conveying high volume of inflatable liquid.
The governor who noted that houses built close to the main road aided the high casualty figure of the disaster and hinted that government will look into the possibility of relocating the houses and their occupants.
He then directed the State Ministry of Works to fashion out short term solution to mitigate the incessant tanker accident in the town and to liaise with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Federal Ministry of Works for a lasting solution.
At the Palace of the Emir of Kagara, Alhaji Salihu Tanko, the governor prayed for the victims of the fire incidence and assured the royal father that government will foot the bills of those currently receiving treatment.
He said steps should be taken for speedy release of the relief package and to ensure that the victims as captured by the state emergency management agency (NSEMA) are promptly settled.
The Emir of Kagara expressed gratitude to the governor’s condolence visit and prayed for the repose of the victims of the fire incidence.
Earlier the head of the FRSC unit, Kontagora Command, Alfred Yahaya attributed most of the heavy duty accidents especially tankers carrying high volume of inflammable liquid to over speeding.
Yahaya said though the Federal Government has called for speed bumps to be removed from the highways, he appealed for special consideration to be given to trouble shoots like Tegina.
He said that if the tanker driver was not over speeding he would have manurvered the road but lost control due to the speed.
Jibrin Baba Ndace
Chief Press Secretary
