National Coordinator, Initiative For Social Rights Concerns And Advancement (ISRCA), Derrick Agberen, has sympathized with the families of the bereaved, who lost their lives in the fire outbreak.
Recall that the said fire outbreak also consumed vehicles and properties including the First Bank situated along the old Lagos/Asaba road, leading to what he described as “monumental destructions,” asking: “Who then takes the blame?”
Agberen in a statement on Monday, said “Overtime, experts have suggested the need to ensure strict compliance of fuel handling regulations, enforcing stricter safety standards for fuel transportation that can prevent tragedies as truck containing petroleum products plying the roads during the day time with motorists and road users, have serious dangers. This importance cannot be over emphasized, as it would help to manage and avert a lot of these incidents on her roads as many of these truck drivers are so unskilled and careless.
“On the part of the Delta State Government, there’s urgent need to strengthen the operations of the firefighting services across the State. It must prioritize a more proactive approach to emergency management to effectively safeguard citizens and infrastructures too. This includes the imperative of having a well-equipped and trained firefighting team that responds quickly and effectively in case of a fire.
“In order to promote a culture of responsiveness, the Delta State Governor; Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori should ensure a 100% assistance to victims of the fire incident, providing supports to displaced persons and businesses that suffered huge losses,” he concluded.