Ambode Gives N30m To Tanker Fire Victims

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News From The State Wednesday, July 8th, 2015

By Ayo Balogun – Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has doled out N30 million to last month’s victims of the Iyana-Ipaja and Idimu tanker fire victims.

A total of 243 victims received cheques on Tuesday at the event held at the Igando Rehabilitation Centre, Igando, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, Ambode appealed to beneficiaries to use the money judiciously to fix their homes and take care of themselves.

The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Oluranti Adebule said “We know that what government has given is not enough but with the belief that you are going to put it to judicious use, it would go a long way to help out. Please stay peaceful and remain focused.

“We want to you to go back home and rehabilitate yourself as much as you could. The good Lord would continue to be with you. We pray not to witness this kind of incidence again. We share in your feelings and urge you to continue to give your support to this administration.”

The governor urged citizens to continue to be patient and join hands with his administration, adding that the government was going to be very responsive and had already demonstrated that by the financial assistance.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dr Aderemi Desalu said from the Iyana Ipaja incident, 76 persons were recommended for financial assistance out which seven were landlords and got N500, 000 each, adding that 64 others who were shop owners each got N150, 000, while five tricycle operators got N50, 000 each.

He stated that from the Idimu petrol tanker incident, 369 were affected out of which 167 were adults.

“We brought members of that community to this camp. We had a total of 369 residents, including children. They have been here for one month and would be departing very soon. 167 of them are adults. We recommended N50, 000 but the Governor magnanimously doubled what we recommended,” he said.

Meanwhile, a Committee set up by Governor Ambode to examine the immediate and remote causes of the petrol tanker disasters witnessed last month has submitted its report.

The Committee chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello presented its report to the Governor on Tuesday at the Lagos House, Alausa Ikeja.

The governor had in the wake of the Iyana Ipaja and Idimu petrol tanker explosion set up a fact finding committee with a charge on them to prepare guidelines for ethical conduct for tanker drivers, who were found culpable in the unfortunate incidents.

The committee was also expected to engage the insurance industry and work out appropriate policies expected to protect residents of the state from havoc in future tanker incidences in the state.

In the report, the Committee made far reaching recommendations to the Governor on how to prevent reoccurrence of such disasters in future.

Receiving the report, Governor Ambode promised to work on the recommendations, saying that the state government would take necessary steps to protect the live and property of its citizenry.