Yahaya Bello Blames Buhari’s Government For Tanker Explosion That Killed 23 People In Kogi

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has blamed President Muhammadu Buhari-led government for the petrol tanker explosion that occurred at Felele, along the Lokoja-Abuja highway.

KanyiDaily had reported how a tanker carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) ran into oncoming vehicles after the brake failed around Felele area of Lokoja on Wednesday, September 23, 2020.

About 23 lives, including students of the state polytechnic and primary school pupils, died in the blaze, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed.

Reacting to the incident, Governor Bello said the total neglect of the federal road by the President Buhari-led government has made life unbearable for motorists and commuters plying the road.

The governor stated this when he visited the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on the need for the Nigerian Government to fix the road and others across the state.

His spokesperson, Onogwu Muhammed, in a statement, said the governor told the minister that the deplorable state of all federal roads across the state have led to recurrent accidents in the state.

“He said the state government has done a lot in maintaining the roads but owing to the large volume of traffic on the roads, in view of its strategic location as gateway state, such repairs and maintenance do not stand the test of time.

“He appealed to the minister to expedite action in carrying out reconstruction of roads across the state to curtail the preventable accidents on the road.

“The governor appealed to the minister to direct contractors handling repairs on the Murtala Bridge at Jamata to speed up the rate of work, noting that the slow pace of work has caused the commuters untold hardship.

“Bello informed the minister that he had to personally be on ground on the Lokoja -Abuja road on July 26 to help other agencies to control the traffic gridlock caused on the Lokoja-Abuja Road as a result of the damaged portion of the bridge.

“He equally urged the minister to direct the contractors handling the Kabba-Ilorin road to return to site, noting that the total neglect of the road in the area has made life unbearable for motorists and commuters plying the road.

“The governor also drew the attention of the minister to the Lokoja-Ganaja-Ajaokuta Road which the federal government awarded for over three years but contractors were yet to be seen on site.”

KanyiDaily had also reported how a fuel tanker fell into a ditch and spilled its contents, resulting in an explosion which killed many people at Upper-Iweka, Onitsha, Anambra State.