President of the National Road Travellers and Motor Parks Association of Nigeria (NARTPAN), Alhaji Ilyasu Haruna-Muhammed, has advocated the sensitisation of motorists on CNG usage in the country.
This is as the group commiserated with the federal government, victims and families of the deceased over the ill-fated Abuja Explosion in Karu that happened on Wednesday.
He stated that the explosion, which preliminary reports said, brake failure and poor condition led to the explosion, wouldn’t have escalated if the traffic in the axis was mild.
NARTPAN president further stated that, there is usually huge traffic in the axis, explaining that a tanker was parked at the area when a vehicle with a locally fabricated CNG exploded, leading to the inferno that gutted the area, resulting in loss of lives, properties and casualties. He added that over 30 cars also got burnt, with several casualties, as it was a peak period when Staffs had just closed for the day.
He, however, advised president Tinubu’s administration to prioritise the safety of lives and properties, stressing that some vehicles on the road use cooking gas at the expense of CNG, which is extremely dangerous for other motorists and road users.
Haruna-Muhammed advised the FG not to rely solely on Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), for safety alone, saying safety goes beyond that.
He explained that NARTPAN has partnered Sahamitr Pressure Container, world renowned manufacturers of Automotive LPG and CNG located in Thailand and owned by the King Ramathan of Thailand, urging the FG to further partner with the Multinational Company for original CNG.
Haruna Muhammed pointed out that, in curbing these anomalies, the FG should take cues from countries like South Africa, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and other European countries who have partnered with Sahamitr Pressure Container in bringing safety to their citizens.
He added that the thickness of a CNG Cylinder is different from Cooking Gas, urging the FG to further sensitise Motorists on this.
He appealed to the federal government to ensure that firefighters are stationed in strategic places on the highway nationwide, just as ‘we have police checkpoints on the highway, for safety measures.’
Speaking further, Haruna-Muhammed urged the FG to work closely with NARTPAN, FRSC and fire fighters to avert further occurrences of the ill-fated Abuja explosion.
In the same vein, he urged the minister of Works, David Umahi and his ministry to form a synergy with NARTPAN, FRSC and firefighters to further forestall such occurrences as the aforementioned are critical stakeholders as regards safety.
