Bukola Saraki
SENATORS yesterday summoned Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) officials over the state of the
nation’s four refineries.
Senate President Bukola Saraki said it
was time to fully deregulate the downstream sector of the petroleum
industry to welcome private operators who are desirous of investing in
the sector.
The upper chamber also raised the alarm
over the rising incidents of fuel tanker tragedies and resolved that
adequate measures be put in place to prevent future occurrences.
These resolutions followed its debate on
a motion entitled: “Fuel tanker tragedies on Nigeria’s highway”
sponsored by Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East).
Other co-sponsors of the motion
are Senators Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central), Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia
South), Philip Aduda (FCT), Isiaka Adeleke (Osun West) and Adeola
Solomon Olamilekan (Lagos West).
Fuel tanker tragedies have recently claimed over 70 lives, destroying property in Lagos and Anambra states.
Ashafa urged his colleagues to note with serious concern the spate of fuel tanker explosions on the nation’s highways.
He observed that within the space of one week, four fuel tanker accidents occurred in two major cities.
The first incident was at Upper Iweka in Onitsha, Anambra State. It claimed over 70 lives.
A tanker conveying 33,000 litres of
petrol exploded at Iyana-Ipana, Lagos, injuring no fewer than 14
persons. About 21 vehicles and 44 shops were razed.
Ashafa urged the lawmakers to note that
as Nigerians were still lamenting the tragedy at Iyana-Ipaja, another
one occurred at Idimu in Alimisho Local Government Area of Lagos.
He said the incident destroyed property
worth millions of naira, including 34 buildings, 70 shops, one tricycle,
one truck and others.
He also observed that all the fuel
tankers lifting fuel from the tank farms on Apapa- Oshodi Expressway
have done incalculable damage to the highways, with attendant deaths,
pains and traffic gridlocks.
He said the time had come for the
government to seek a permanent solution to the problem as fuel tankers
from all states in the North, the South-East and the South-South come to
Lagos to conve petroleum products.
He said the tankers often caused the type of tragedy that was witnessed in Onitsha and Lagos.
Ashafa insisted that if the refineries
were functioning optimally, fuel marketers would not need to send trucks
to Lagos for products, adding that the refineries in Port- Harcourt,
Warri and Kaduna would have taken care of that.
He said few tankers would be on the road had the railways been operating efficiently.
Most of the senators, who spoke on the matter, supported the motion.
Senator Joshua Lidani (Gombe South)
said the tragedies should be blamed on lack of efficient rail system and
reckless tanker drivers.
Lidani said: “They do these things with
impunity across the country. We should call the attention of the
leadership of tanker drivers to ensure their drivers adhere to highway
codes.”
Senator Solomon Olamilekan (Lagos West) said it was time trucks were restricted from moving during the day.
Senator George Akume (Benue North West) described tanker drivers as a menace.,
He said that those who travel by air cannot appreciate the trauma of those who travel by road.
Akume stressed that “Abuja to Lokoja is a nightmare for commuters and passengers because of tanker drivers”.
Senate President Bukola Saraki described the motion as timely and germane.
He said it had become necessary for
the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for the private
sector operators to establish private refineries as a step towards
solving oil sector problems.
Saraki added that the downstream sector
of the oil industry should be deregulated to ensure a permanent solution
to the problems.
The motion urged the Federal Government
to revamp the refineries, create an enabling environment for private
refineries and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to train for tanker
drivers.
The prayers were approved through voice vote.
The Senate also resolved to summon the
NNPC ”to come and give account of the state of our refineries and all
such structures and urge the Federal Government to create the enabling
environment for private refineries to be established and thrive.”
The senators also observed a one minute silence in honour of those who died in tanker accidents.
Also yesterday, Saraki called for proper
funding and coordination of agencies responsible for the management
flood related challenges.
The Senate President was contributing to
a motion entitled: “Managing the challenges of the rainy season”,
sponsored by Senator Andy Uba (Anambra South).
After exhaustive debate on the motion,
the senate resolved to refer the matter to its standing committee soon
to be constituted rather than set up an ad-hoc Committee to ascertain
the level of preparedness of government and its agencies to respond to
flood emergencies.
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