News Investigators/ The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, on Tuesday, visited Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State over the tanker explosion that occured on Jan 25.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a fuel-laden tanker exploded at the Ugwu-Onyeama axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, leaving 18 road users dead, about 30 injured and 13 vehicles completely burnt.
NAN also reports that Umar was in the state to sympathise with Mbah and the people of the state over the tragic incident.
Speaking during the visit at the Government House, Enugu, Umar said that the visit was the first rapid assessment report to be carried out by the agency on the incident and promised continued support to the state government.
She said that NEMA was in Enugu to complement the efforts of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) by providing immediate assistance of food and non-food items including medical needs to the affected families.
The DG added that the agency was ready to coordinate comprehensive support aimed at disaster recovery.
Umar pledged that the agency would continue to work with the state officials and other emergency responders in providing long-term recovery needs that may arise.
“On behalf of the Federal Government, we are here to support you along side local authorities and other stakeholders as we navigate these challenges.
“We are to provide immediate assistance of food and non food items including medical need for the affected families,” the director-general said.
Responding, Mbah reiterated his call on the law enforcement agencies to ensure strict enforcement of the anti-spill lock on all the petroleum product tankers plying the roads across the country.
Mbah, who described the incident as “tearful, avoidable and unfortunate”, commended the Federal Government through NEMA for its support since the disaster occured.
He disclosed that those who sustained several degrees of injury had been taken to the hospital for adequate treatment.
He promised that the food items and other assistance from NEMA would be judiciously distributed to the victims and prayed God to give the bereaved families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
NAN
