By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka
The Accident Prevention and Rescue Initiative (APRI), a road safety focused Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) has expressed sadness over the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) tanker explosion at Karu Bridge, between Nyanya and Kugbo, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. APRI’s Executive Director, Amb. Fidelis Nnadi, in a press release, in Abuja on Thursday, commiserated with the victims and those affected by the unfortunate explosion of the CNG tanker, on the evening of Wednesday 19th March, 2025.
“We are disturbed by this latest avoidable carnage on our road, where scores of lives and property were wasted.
“We demand an immediate, thorough and discreet investigation into the incident. The earlier we begin to hold people accountable for their actions and inactions, the better.
“We specifically call on the Presidential Committee on CNG, the Federal Road Safety Corps and other relevant government agencies to investigate the remote and immediate cause (s) of the carnage.
“While we commend the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Federal Fire Service (FFS), for their swift response, we strongly advocate for a tighter regulation on the transportation of petroleum products on the Nigerian roads, to avert these recurring tragedies.
Furthermore, the group decried that the disaster would have been averted save for the subsisting Court judgement that barred the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS-FCT) from enforcing road traffic rules in FCT roads.
“This is among the negative effects of the current ban of the officers DRTS FCT enforcing the Ministerial Order against movement of trucks on that highway.”
“While APRI is not against Court orders, it should be with consideration for the safety and security of lives and property.
“That court order has done more harm than any good in this direction.
“Who will compensate victims of this carnage?Nigerian motorists must rise up to tackle this menace for the safety of their lives and property, Amb. Nnadi concluded.
