By Correspondent in Lafia.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA), has launched a sensitization campaign to educate tanker drivers on how to prevent and manage fire outbreaks involving fuel articulated vehicles.
Our correspondent reports that the awareness campaign kicked off on Wednesday at the Tanker Drivers’ Park in Nassarawa-Eggon Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
Speaking at the event, Babatunde Razak-Adebiyi, NEMA’s North-Central Coordinator overseeing Plateau, Nasarawa, and Benue States, said the initiative was aimed at reducing the incidence and impact of tanker fires.
He noted that the campaign involved collaboration with the state fire service, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the drivers’ union to collectively address the increasing rate of road fire disasters.
“Fire incidents are high-risk emergencies that threaten lives, property, infrastructure, and the environment.
” Many are caused by road crashes, mechanical failure, and human error. Addressing them requires coordinated action,” Razak-Adebiyi said.
He urged articulated vehicle drivers to apply the knowledge shared by resource persons of the emergency agencies to prevent fire outbreaks and minimise casualties when accidents occur.
Also speaking, Barr. Ben Akwash, Director-General of NASEMA, described the campaign as a proactive measure by both state and federal governments to curb the growing number of tanker fire incidents.
He lamented past occurrences of poorly managed fire incidences involving articulated vehicles resulting to significant loss of lives and property across the country.
Akwash urged drivers to always drive cautiously and advised the general public to evacuate immediately whenever a petroleum-laden articulated vehicle falls.
He said the sensitization programme would be replicated across all 13 LGAs of the state to reach as many tanker drivers as possible.
In a presentation, the Controller of the Federal Fire Service in Nasarawa State, Nwachuku Eno-Kelechi, stressed the importance of self-preservation during fire emergencies.
“Drivers should first ensure their safety before attempting to extinguish a fire. An ABC fire extinguisher is highly recommended due to its effectiveness,” she said.
Eno-Kelechi also advised that in the event of an articulated vehicle crash, the battery should be disconnected immediately, adding that the fire service should be contacted without delay.
She urged drivers to regularly service their fire extinguishers, maintain vehicle electrical systems, and keep seatbelt cutters within reach.
Highlight of the occasion was the a live demonstration on effective fire-extinguishing techniques to provide practical guidance for the drivers, conducted by the fire service team.
Contributing, Mr. Domain Ezeanya, Head of Operations for the FRSC in Nassarawa-Eggon LGA, attributed most fires resulting from articulated vehicle accidents to equipment failure, human error, poor road conditions, and lack of proper vehicle maintenance.
He advised drivers to carry out regular maintenance on their trucks, undergo continuous training, and assess road conditions to improve preparedness for emergencies.
Ezeanya also cautioned drivers against speeding and overtaking on dangerous bends to prevent avoidable accidents.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
