Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Petroleum), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has visited the site of the tragic oil tanker explosion at Majiya town in Taura Local Government Area of ​​the state from Jigawa. Accompanied by officials of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Minister extended the Federal Government’s sincere condolences to the people of Jigawa over the devastating incident.

The minister’s visit began at the government headquarters in Dutse, where he met with the Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi. Senator Lokpobiri expressed deep sympathy on behalf of the Federal Government, recognizing the loss of lives caused by the explosion. He also highlighted the critical need to improve security measures in the transportation of petroleum products across the country.

READ MORE: Death toll in Jigawa tanker explosion rises to 170

“On behalf of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, I extend our deepest condolences to the government and good people of Jigawa State. This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring that only licensed and certified drivers transport petroleum products. We are working with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to enforce higher safety standards,” the minister said.

He further revealed ongoing discussions with the Marshal of FRSC, Mr. Shehu Mohammed, aimed at developing a common framework to regulate the certification of tanker drivers. This partnership between NMDPRA and FRSC, Senator Lokpobiri explained, would be essential to prevent future accidents and ensure safer transportation of petroleum products.

Governor Namadi, while receiving the Minister, thanked the Federal Government for its support and expressed deep concern over the frequency of oil tanker accidents in the state.

READ MORE: Oil tanker explosion: CNG sympathizes with victims, Jigawa government

“We are truly saddened by this loss, and we hope that through stronger regulations and partnerships, we can prevent these tragedies from happening again,” the governor said.

At the scene of the incident in Majiya town, Senator Lokpobiri called on Nigerians to cooperate with the government to avoid accident scenes.

“We urge citizens to resist the temptation to approach such incidents. This is crucial for public safety. The Federal Government is committed to ensuring that such occurrences are minimized, and our efforts, including the NMDPRA-FRSC partnership, will ensure safer roads for Nigerians,” the Minister assured.

Senator Lokpobiri reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening regulations and safety protocols in the transportation of petroleum products, assuring the people of Jigawa State of its continued support during this difficult period.