Senator Ede Dafinone, the representative of Delta Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, has urged the Federal Government to promptly address the failed section of highway wherebatrsic explosion occurred.
Dafinone said this when he conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the victims of the petrol tanker explosion at Ugbenu along the Sapele-Benin road in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Warri, Senator Dafinone lamented the plight of commuters on the dilapidated Warri-Benin road, emphasizing that travelers endure nearly five hours of travel instead of the expected one-hour journey due to the deplorable state of the road.
Dafinone emphasized the importance of public safety, urging vigilance and adherence to safety precautions, especially during accidents involving hazardous materials, and cautioned against the dangerous practice of fuel scooping. He called on individuals to report road hazards promptly and support ongoing efforts to enhance road infrastructure.
Expressing his condolences, Senator Dafinone stated, “The Ugbenu fire incident is a devastating tragedy that claimed five lives and caused significant property damage, which is very unfortunate. My heart goes out to the affected families. We must prioritize citizen safety by ensuring our roads are well-maintained.”
He reiterated his call for urgent action from the federal government to repair the deteriorated roads in Delta State, emphasizing that the tragedy could have been averted if not for the road’s failed sections, leading to the tanker accident. Dafinone urged relevant authorities to address the issue of bad roads promptly to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Senator Dafinone voiced his concern about the daily loss of man-hours due to traffic on the Warri-Benin road, affecting economic activities and social life in the region. He pledged to continue advocating for road infrastructure improvements and resource allocation to enhance citizen safety on the roads.
He concluded, “We owe it to the memory of the Ugbenu fire incident victims and our community to make our roads safer and more reliable. I will persist in engaging with relevant authorities to ensure the safety of our citizens on the roads.”