​The provision of the various petroleum products to the citizens of Nigeria falls under the exclusive list in the Constitution. Therefore, it means the federal government oversees how these products are available through various monitoring mechanisms.

The most recent fuel tanker explosion which occurred was the one that happened in the wee hours of Wednesday, August 24, where many people were feared dead when a tanker laden with fuel exploded at Upper Mission junction on the Benin-Auchi expressway, in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo state.

The government of the federation can not continue to fold its arms and watch people die needlessly.

it is the duty of the political officer holders and other stakeholders in the oil industry to take to solution-driven pieces of advice and suggestions.

1. Fuel tankers should move at night

It is not ideal for drivers of highly inflammable products to struggle for road with commuters in the day time. The lives of the ordinary man on the street counts. The rate of accidents resulting from fuel tanker explosions will seriously go down if the drivers of these vehicles ply the road at night when the road is less busy.

2. Rail system should be re-visited

The most important solution to oil tanker explosion is to re-vitalise the Nigerian railway system in its entirety. In advanced countries of the world, the rail system serves so many purposes, in which movement of delicate products is included.

The use of this system will drastically cut down explosions of oil tankers.

Many people were killed and about 4 houses razed after a petrol tanker exploded at Upper Mission junction along the Benin-Auchi express road in Edo state in the morning of Wednesday, August 24

In addition, more petroleum products would be moved in a shorter period of time, meaning more efficiency and less stress on drivers who sit behind the wheels for hours, especially if they are moving petrol from Lagos to Kano for instance.

3. Speed limits

The rate at which some drivers of tankers drive is absurd. They overtake smaller vehicles and lead to death of the other road users. It’s better to be late to deliver fuel products than to over-speed and waste hundreds of lives.

In this regard, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) comes in here.

4. Enacting a holistic law on the activities of Tanker drivers

When there is no law, there is no crime (or sin); a common saying in Nigeria. Tanker drivers will continue to flout traffic laws if they are not educated and informed on many aspects of traffic laws.

Making a law specifically for fuel tanker drivers is not too much for the government to do.

5. Marking out roads for Tankers

This suggestion is really a good one. For example, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) synonymous with Lagos have their own marked out lane. This is a very good idea, for it does not allow other vehicles to come near. In this wise, this could be done for fuel tankers too.

Culled from naij.com