Senator Dafinone bemoaned the lives lost in the tanker explosion and stressed the need to prioritize the safety and well-being of our citizens by ensuring good road infrastructure.
The lawmaker representing Delta Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Ede Dafinone, has extended his condolences to the families and victims of the petrol tanker explosion on Sunday, October 1, 2023, at Ugbenu, along the Sapele-Benin road in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.
According to police accounts, the fatal explosion occurred in the early hours of Sunday, near the popular Koko Junction, killing five people and destroying property worth millions of naira.
In a statement made available to journalists in Warri on Tuesday, Dafinone lamented the daily suffering commuters experience on Warri-Benin road, where they spend over four hours on a trip that should only take about an hour due to the terrible condition of the road.
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He added that the poor state of the road has affected economic activities and warned that if urgent steps are not taken to fix it, the entire Niger Delta would be cut off from other parts of the country.
The lawmaker also urged members of the public to stay watchful, follow safety precautions, especially when confronted with accidents or occurrences involving hazardous substances, and resist the urge to scoop up fuel.
“The Ugbenu fire incident is a devastating tragedy that has claimed the lives of five individuals and caused significant damage to properties, this is very unfortunate.
“My heart goes out to the families who lost their loved ones and to all those affected by this unfortunate event. We must come together as a community to provide support and assistance to those who have suffered such immense loss.
“The loss of lives and destruction of properties in this incident are deeply distressing. We must prioritize the safety and well-being of our citizens by ensuring that our roads are in a good state.”
While calling on members of the public to report any road dangers immediately in order to help with ongoing efforts to upgrade road infrastructure for everyone’s benefit, Dafinone also assured that the attention of the government will be brought to road infrastructure improvement and resources allocated to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“I will continue to engage with relevant authorities and advocate for the necessary measures to be taken to ensure the safety of our citizens on the roads.
“We owe it to the memory of the victims of the Ugbenu fire incident and to the community at large to make our roads safer and more reliable.”
Senator Dafinone equally urged the federal government to act quickly to repair the highway’s failing parts.
“I call on the Federal Government and other relevant agencies to expedite action in addressing the issue of bad roads, particularly the Warri-Benin Road, to prevent future tragedies like this from occurring.
“The poor state of Warri-Benin road needs emergency attention, our people have been subjected to untold hardship since the only access road connecting the Niger Delta got bad,” he lamented.
