Edo govt inspects Auchi tanker fire scene, assures residents of improved safety measures

The Edo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the safety and welfare of residents following the recent petrol tanker fire incident in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, which left several people injured but recorded no fatalities.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Mr. Ebojele Patrick. He said that, on the governor’s directive, a high-powered delegation led by the Chief of Staff, Mallam Gani Audu, visited the scene of the incident and hospitals where victims are receiving treatment.

Speaking during the visit, Audu said the delegation was mandated to immediately sympathise with the affected community and conduct an on-the-spot assessment. He explained that although the governor would have personally visited Auchi, he was unavoidably engaged in Abuja on official matters, hence the constitution of the delegation.

According to him, the presence of top government officials, including the Commissioner for Public Safety and Security, the Chief Whip of the Edo State House of Assembly, the Director-General of EdoSEMA and officials of NEMA, underscored the responsiveness and concern of the state government for its people.

Audu added that the delegation inspected the scene of the inferno and visited injured victims in hospitals, noting that a comprehensive report would be submitted to the governor to guide long-term preventive measures. He thanked God that no life was lost in the incident.

The Director-General of the Edo State Fire Service disclosed that Auchi currently has no functional fire station but assured residents that the situation would soon change, revealing that the governor had approved the establishment of a fire station with trucks in the area by January next year.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Public Safety and Security, Hon. Festus Ebea, commiserated with the victims and partly blamed the incident on the poor and undulating condition of the Auchi–Okene expressway. He called for urgent remedial work and warned residents against scooping fuel from fallen tankers due to its highly flammable nature.

The Head of EdoSEMA, Mr. Jerry Idahosa, said 25 persons were affected, with 16 still receiving treatment at Auchi General Hospital and Amazing Grace Hospital, adding that some shops, four trucks and a few motorcycles were destroyed.

The Chief Whip of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Hussein Mustafa Lecky, and the Chairman of Etsako West Local Government Area both sympathised with the victims and commended the governor’s swift response, while appealing for urgent attention to the Auchi–Okene road. Victims and eyewitnesses also shared their experiences, as NEMA officials participated in the assessment.