Anambra State Gov, Obiano Bans Heavy Duty Truck From Driving On State Roads During The Day

Anambra State Government is to ban Heavy duty trucks from plying state roads in a renewed drive to secure the lives of the citizenry and check the massive damage they cause on the roads. Governor Willie Obiano made this known after visiting victims of yesterday’s fire accident resulting from break failure by a tanker carrying Automobile Gas oil, AGO at Asaba Park, Upper Iweka, Onitsha. Governor Obiano, who arrived the scene of the accident which claimed many lives, thirty munities after it occurred, later visited Toronto Hospital, Onitsha to sympathise’ with the victims where he
promised that the state government will bear the cost of their treatment. The Governor, while noting that government will soon announce the approved roads which the vehicles will henceforth ply, further said relevant agencies have been directed to regularly stop and check the heavy duty vehicles to ensure that they are in good condition while sales and consumption of Alcohol and hard drugs have been banned at the parks. He recalled that his administration has last month inaugurated the state emergency management board, SEMA, to coordinate emergency response activities in the state, adding that the prompt arrival of the fire brigade and ambulances, has ensured that the casualty rate was reduced maximally. Describing the incident as a big tragedy, Governor Obiano said his administration is working in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corp to introduce initiatives that will help minimize road mishaps, some of which include installation of road signs and speed limits as well as marking of the roads. He called on the public to compliment Government efforts at making the road safer by complying with traffic rules and ensuring their vehicles are road-worthy. Speaking at the park, an eyewitness, Mr. Chidiebere Eze, narrated how the tanker driver tried unsuccessfully to steer the vehicle into a nearly ditch before it hit the conveinence at the park and exploded, noting that over fifteen commercial buses were totally burnt by the inferno.Some other persons who spoke to the ABS, including Messrs Kanayo Ifesinachi and Vincent Oderah, bemoaned the huge loss of lives and property caused by the accident and appealed to government to ban such heavy duty vehicles from plying in the day time. According to them, this will ensure that the roads are free for them at night as well as reduce the number of causalities in the event of any mishap.