The Minna Operations Office of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has initiated a comprehensive awareness campaign aimed at curbing tanker-related accidents and fire outbreaks in Kwara State.
Director General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, described the initiative, Tanker Accident Prevention Kwara Campaign, as a proactive step toward safety and not just a routine event.
Represented by Mr Hussaini Isah, Head of Operations for Niger and Kwara States, Umar underscored the campaign’s purpose: to raise public consciousness about the inherent dangers of tanker operations and the devastating consequences of related accidents.
The campaign, held at the Oloru Tanker Park in Moro Local Government Area, was designed to educate residents and stakeholders on fire safety and emergency preparedness.
Mrs Umar called for a cultural shift in safety practices, stating: “Let this gathering be the start of a new chapter, one where we move from reaction to prevention, from silence to advocacy, and from complacency to shared responsibility.”
She also explained that the campaign is a platform for exchanging knowledge and best practices that can avert disasters, while also fostering collaboration among government agencies, emergency responders, and the general public.
The initiative also seeks to reduce the frequency and severity of tanker-related incidents through community engagement and shared safety advocacy.
In his remarks, Mr Moshood Mogaji, Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Emergency Management Agency, KWASEMA, reinforced the message of shared responsibility in disaster prevention.
Alhaji Suleiman Abdulaziz, Vice Chairman of Moro Local Government Area, commended NEMA for bringing the sensitization campaign to the community and increasing public awareness on the hazards associated with tanker mishaps.
The campaign featured practical sessions, including emergency response training conducted by the Nigerian Red Cross Society and fire safety drills led by the Kwara State Fire Service.
Educational materials, including flyers and stickers, were distributed in English, Yoruba, and Nupe to ensure wider understanding and reach.
Stakeholders in attendance included representatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and traditional rulers from the host communities.
