The 36 State Governors in Nigeria are currently in talks with strategic federal agencies in the oil and gas industry over the adoption of safer methods of transportation of petroleum products across the country, the Nigerian Governors Forum has said.

Chairman of the NGF, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said this on Sunday, April 28, 2024 when he visited the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara in Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (right); addressing newsmen after a meeting with Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara (left); during the NGF chairman’s condolence visit to Government House, Port Harcourt on Sunday over the unfortunate tanker fire at Indorama-Aleto bridge axis of East-West Road.

The NGF Chairman was in the State to commiserate with the Governor Fubara and the people of the State over the recent tanker inferno at Eleme in Eleme Local Government Area of the State.

Kristina Reports reliably learnt that the incident, which occurred on the night of Friday, April 26, 2024, claimed the lives of five persons and razed over 120 vehicles on the Indorama-Aleto bridge axis of the East-West Road in Eleme LGA.

AbdulRazaq, who is also the Governor of Kwara State, recalled a similar carnage in Ogun State, which was caused by a tanker conveying compressed natural gas (CNG) that impacted lives.

He described what happened in Rivers State as “a huge loss”, saying his meeting with his Rivers State counterpart, Fubara, availed them the opportunity to have peer review discussions over the recurring decimal.

“I came over to commiserate with the Government and people of Rivers State over the tanker fire incident and the subsequent huge loss of lives. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.

“We have peer review discussions over it. And similar incident happened in Ogun State as well, which you are aware of, and that’s a CNG tanker, Rivers State was petrol tanker.”

“We also spoke with the Head of the Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency, and there will be a review of some laws. There will also be engagement between the Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency and State Agencies in terms of ensuring health and safety on these issues.

“As you know, Nigeria relies a lot, virtually, on pipelines for the movement of petroleum products, and we need to strengthen regulations in that sector, and also emphasize on improving and expanding pipelines for the transportation of products as well.”