The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Owerri Operations Office, conducted a public sensitization exercise on the dangers of fuel tanker fires along major highways. The program, organized in response to the recurring incidents of tanker fires that have claimed lives and destroyed property, was held at Uchechi Park along the Aba–Enugu Highway in Umuahia, Abia State, on June 26, 2025. It specifically targeted fuel tanker drivers, stakeholders, and members of the public.
Representing the Head of Operations, Mr. Nweze Innocent (ACSARO) emphasized that most tanker fire incidents are preventable if all stakeholders, especially those with regulatory and enforcement roles, uphold their responsibilities. He educated the drivers on critical safety practices and warned the public against the dangerous act of fuel scooping.
The Executive Secretary of Abia State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Sunday Jackson, commended NEMA’s continued commitment to disaster risk reduction. He noted that the exercise aligns with the Abia State government’s ongoing safety reform initiatives.
During the event, each participating agency and stakeholder had the opportunity to outline their roles and responsibilities in preventing and responding to tanker fire emergencies.
The sensitization began at the Abia SEMA office and continued en route to the park, with public announcements made in both English and Igbo languages. Informational flyers were also distributed.
Key organizations in attendance included:
Abia SEMA, NOSDRA, NESREA, Federal and State Fire Services, NSCDC, FRSC, Nigerian Red Cross, Nigerian Police, Abia State Tanker Drivers Association, Filling Station Owners Union, NGOs, and media representatives.
