Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has commiserated with families of victims of the fuel tanker crash that claimed the lives of some students of Army Day Secondary School in Effurun, near Warri, Delta State.
The unfortunate incident, which occurred on Thursday along the ever-busy Effurun/NPA highway in the Uvwie Local Government Area of the state, was said to have left quite a number of students dead while others are still battling for survival.
According to the Delta Central lawmaker, the incident represents another disturbing and saddening case in the litany of tragedies on our highways.
In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, to the Deputy President of the Senate, Yomi Odunuga, Omo-Agege urged drivers and all road users to always ensure strict adherence to safety rules and regulations in order to avoid these unfortunate incidents that lead to loss of lives.
Noting that public safety should not be compromised under any circumstances, the Deputy President of the Senate called for strict adherence to safety standards and procedures.
The lawmaker, who shared in the pains of those who lost their loved ones in the incident, decried the incessant cases of road accidents across the country.
He stressed the need for strict enforcement of safety measures and regulations to halt the ugly trend.
He said: “I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of those that lost their loved ones to the tanker crash in my constituency involving students of Army Day Secondary School and I pray that God grant their souls eternal rest. This is one incident too many.
“I am seriously worried about the frequency of these unfortunate and large-scale tragedies in the country, which cause needless deaths. These frequent incidents that result in the loss of lives and property should be seen as a national scandal caused by our indifference to safety standards.
“Many accidents are preventable if proper proactive and precautionary measures are put in place or properly observed as routine policies.
“I also call on our transport authorities, traffic and road management agencies and enforcement officials to sit up and enforce safety standards with more seriousness”.
