The House of Representatives on Wednesday, called for the urgent repair of the dilapidated Benin-Warri highway which led to the fuel tanker explosion that claimed lives at the Koko Junction in Delta state.
This resolution followed the adoption of the motion of urgent importance moved by Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi, who said that the tanker explosion which claimed lives at Koko Junction in the Warri-Benin highway in Delta State was worrisome.
He also noted that other people sustained different degrees of injuries while over 16 vehicles and 3 motor cycles were destroyed by the inferno, adding that the unfortunate incident will further worsen the plight of road users, spending days on a journey that should ordinarily not exceed 45 minutes.
“Disturbed that Warri-Benin highway is plagued by significant number of accidents each year, often involving tankers and other heavy duty vehicles which topple over as drivers maneuver failed portions of the road.
“Distressed that with the accident, commuters and motorists will become more exposed to attacks by hoodlums/miscreants who take advantage of such situations to wreck havoc.
“The failed portions of this road has become a death trap for users of the road with little or no remedial efforts from any quarter over a period of time to pose this kind of danger.
Meanwhile, the House called on the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to expedite action on the rehabilitation of the Warri-Benin highway and other federal roads around the country with a view to forestalling future occurrence.
Observing a minute silence in honour of those who lost their lives in the tragic incident, the representatives called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to immediately send relief materials to affected victims and settle medical bills of those and settle medical bills of those hospitalized.
The House further mandated its Committees on Emergency and Disaster Management, Works and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.
