The Lagos State government has expressed its commitment to providing a lasting solution to the incessant tanker crash and explosion across the state.
While speaking at a stakeholders’ forum held with participants from the Oil and Gas transportation sector, with the theme “Sanitising Lagos State Roads of Petroleum Tanker Explosions and Accidents” recently, the state Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Olalere Odusote pointed out that the state government is currently developing strategies that will address the menace of petroleum tanker explosions and accidents on Lagos roads.
According to Odusote, the Ministry has set up a working committee to develop a legal framework, saying the exercise is being undertaken in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice and it will take cognisance of existing Physical Planning, Environmental and Safety Laws in Lagos State to address the issue.
The commissioner stated that the working committee, which comprises of representatives of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigeria Liquified Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA), Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NLPGAM) and other relevant stakeholders in the LPG sector, was formed to develop an integrated checklist for safety audit on LPG installations in order to entrench safe and ethical practices in the LPG sector.
Odusote stated that the committee will also develop operational audit checks for LPG plants/facilities and ensure there is a certification process for storage tanks and trucks in the State. The regulations and standards have been put in place to guide the operations and haulage of petroleum products in Lagos.
The commissioner averred that the forum was convened to come up with additional channels, policies, regulation improvement and laws for safe transportation of petroleum products in Lagos, noting that DPR is currently collaborating with Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to check haulage permits of tankers conveying petroleum products.
The commissioner said the recommendations of the forum will be considered to end tanker accidents on Lagos roads, while assuring that the State Government will come up with regulations and laws to enhance operations in the transportation sector as well as increase safety and safe operations.
On his part, the National Executive Director, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation, Mr. Paul Ndibe, urged the State Government to find an alternative to transportation of petroleum products by road, saying laying of petroleum pipes across locations it the best way to go.
