The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it is partnering with the Federal Fire Service (FFS) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to combat the rising incidence of tanker crashes on Nigerian roads.
The FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.
Mohammed said that the partnership was aimed at enhancing the response to tanker crashes, minimising the loss of lives and properties, and ensuring that victims received prompt and adequate emergency services.
He explained that the FRSC would work closely with the FFS to establish fire service points at strategic locations, including FRSC zebra points, to facilitate prompt response to tanker crashes.
This, he said, would enable the FFS to respond swiftly and effectively to tanker crashes, thereby reducing the risk of fire outbreaks and explosions.
“FRSC will also collaborate with NEMA to provide emergency services and support to victims of tanker crashes.
“This will include the provision of medical services, shelter, and other forms of support to victims and their families.
“We are coming together to see that wherever we have FRSC Zebra points, we should see that we have fire service and NEMA points too.
“So that if such an incident happens, while FRSC is there to help, the Police and other sister security agencies are there and the Fire service and NEMA too are there to help and protect lives and properties.
“This is necessary so that we can all be able to ensure that fire doesn’t occur but ensure safety first,” he said.
Mohammed emphasised the need for collective efforts to combat tanker crashes, urging community leaders and the public to join forces with the FRSC and its partners to prevent these incidents.
He, however, called on Nigerians to report any suspicious activity or tanker crashes to the FRSC’s emergency numbers, 122 and 112.
“Everybody should be involved in curbing tanker crashes, both the community leaders and the public, so that we speak with one voice to stop this carnage from continuing and improve on what we do.
“Our emergency numbers 122 and 112 are very effective because it is 24 hours, that is, day and night because the officials run shifts.
“Someone will always pick and link you to the immediate point where interventions can be brought in and take care of the incidents,” he said.
The FRSC corps marshal also announced plans to establish more FRSC outposts in strategic locations to facilitate swift intervention in the event of tanker crashes.
He also said that the FRSC would work with state governments to identify high-risk locations and establish outposts in those areas.
“We have identified some hot spots and we are also creating not necessarily a unit but an outpost.
“We will also partner with state governments to make sure that we put a zebra point and outpost there so that we will be able to bring intervention immediately,” he said.
The FRSC boss called on parents to educate their children on the dangers of tanker crashes, emphasising the need for children to stay away from scenes of tanker crashes or fuel spillage.
According to the Corps Marshal, children are often curious and may be tempted to approach scenes of tanker crashes, unaware of the dangers.
He warned that fuel was highly volatile and could ignite easily, causing devastating consequences.
“I’ll advise Nigerians, especially Parents to talk to thier children and wards because this fuel is very volatile.
“Instead of going there to look, it is better when you see a tanker crashed or fuel spilling, they should run completely from the scene, they should be running entirely from that scene because it is dangerous.
“Once we don’t go there to scoop fuel, it means that we can save our lives, ” he emphasised.
