Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday set up a committee to determine the immediate and remote causes of the frequent tanker crashes in the state after a meeting with petrol tanker drivers and other stakeholders in the transport sector.
The governor, who spoke at the Conference Room of the Lagos House, Ikeja, said the committee, which would be chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, would also prepare guidelines for ethical conduct for tanker drivers over the next two weeks.
Ambode, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, said the committee would also quickly engage the insurance industry to meet and work out appropriate policies that would protect ordinary Lagosians from havoc in future tanker accidents in the state.
The committee has the Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Transport, Special Duties, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations; Sector Commander of the Federal Roads Safety Commission; Director, Fire Service; representative of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners; National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers; National Association of Road Transport Owners; Petroleum Tankers Drivers and Lagos State Traffic Management Agency as members.
Ambode added, “I belief we have created the platform to bring immediate relief to those who have been affected. We are also waiting for the two final reports on the two incidences in Ipaja and Idimu, after which we will take appropriate actions to bring further relief for our people.
“I know that it is in the interest of every Lagosian that we extend the enforcement of traffic laws to all drivers in Lagos State. It is not only tanker drivers that offend us. We would not wait until another incident occurs before we take action. We know that all drivers must come under the enforcement of our traffic laws”.
The governor maintained that the purpose of his administration was to make life simpler for people and for them to be able to live their lives comfortably wherever they are.
Ambode explained that from preliminary investigation into the recent incidences, it was discovered that the crashes were caused by human errors that were traceable to the drivers, stressing that there was the need to think outside the box.
He stressed that there was the need for all stakeholders to avert the present situation and take a critical look at undertaking insurance because according to him, the government must protect the citizens from undue loss of property, assets and lives.
The governor said the incidences of the past few days were totally unacceptable to the government and hence informed his decision to bring stakeholders together.
He said his administration did not subscribe to imposing directives on the people.
“We believe that you should be involved because we promised to run an all-inclusive government. It is not in our interest to force down directives on the people without getting them involved”, he stressed.
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