From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has cautioned drivers and other road users against consumption of hard drugs and other substance that could make them reckless while driving.
He stated this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after inspecting the scene of the tanker fire incident, which killed five persons and burnt over 70 vehicles along the Eleme section of the East-West Road in the state.
The minister said the cause of the incident was typical of persons hooked on Mkpurumiri (ice) and other hard drugs.
He sympathised with the Rivers State Government and families of the victims of the explosion.
He clarified that the accident was not caused by any failure on the side of the Federal Government or construction company as being speculated.
“When somebody is dead, we are no longer talking about who is right and who is wrong because life can’t be recovered. One funny person that says he’s a president of Ogoni Youth Federation or whatever he calls himself, made a very careless and inciting statement.
“Yes, the bridge there that we are reconstructing, there were very large and up to 16 meters wide of diversion that we made over the past year and that’s where vehicles are following and he made a very nasty statement trying to blame the contractor, Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) and the Federal Government and even said he was going to the International Criminal Court.
“Now the accident was caused, as I was briefed, by the carelessness of two drivers who were struggling for the right of way. They were competing with their lives and the trailer and tanker that had fuel now collided.
“I think that the Road Safety (FRSC) should mount a number of checkpoints to examine people against ‘Mkpurumiri’ (ice) and other hard drugs because it is only ‘Mkpurumiri’ and other hard drugs that can make you use your life to compete and that’s what happened.
“So, it’s unfortunate and I’m not even sure that they lost their lives, but they caused other law abiding citizens of the country to lose their lives and a number of property.”
The Minister charged road users to be law abiding and never drink while driving to avoid accidents.