Ibadan's Tanker Fire Inferno By Oludare Ogunlana

By Oludare Ogunlana

The residents of the Omotowoju in Ibadan are still counting their lost after the inferno that gutted the area yesterday.
A petrol tanker, belonging to the Total Petroleum caused the disaster when the vehicle stumbled while the driver of the long vehicle was making an attempt to drive pass a very narrow road in a densely populated area of Ibadan.
The Fire service arrived at the spot of the incident very quickly but they claimed they do not have enough water and equipment. The youth in the area got angry and started throwing rocks and stone at the fire service personnel. One of the stones broke the windscreen of the vehicle belonging to the fire service company.
Meanwhile, Sen. Femi Lanlehin who represents the Oyo South Senatorial district was there for the assesment and the impact of he fire today. He declined to make comment.
One of the inhabitants of the area, Ms. Romoke Fetuga claims that the negligence and high handedness of the driver of the truck was responsible for the incident. He called on the Federal government to impose stiff penalty on the operators of the long vehicle in Nigeria.  She narrated further on how they warned the driver of the vehicle not to drive through the narrow part of the road but flagrantly ignored the advice.
Ms. Fetuga expressed her dissatisfaction about neglect of the area by the government. “Our Senator and other elected representatives only visit this area when they want our vote; you will also see them in time of disaster such as this but not in our interest but to further get more allocation of money to be stolen from Abuja,” Ms. Fetuga said.
Another shop owner who lost everything to the inferno, Mr. Akeem Adele said the Total petroleum should be held responsible for the incident. He called on the State government to assist the inhabitant of the place and also give financial assistance to some of them who lost everything.
About forty five shops were affected but no fatality has been recorded so far. Ibadan is he capital of Oyo State and the biggest city in West Africa. The capital remains the dirtiest and most disorganized city in Nigeria. The PDP led government under Sen. Rasheed Ladoja and Mr. Alao Akala never gave it a priority to sanitize and reorganize the states.
However, since assumption of office in May 2011, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, execuritve governor of the state has focus on the infrastructural development through his urban renewal project. Some people have criticize his policy as harsh without human face.
The incident of yesterday has further confirm that the capital city needs more reorganization of which the government of Sen. Ajimobi must work hard to ensure that the city is sanitize with provision of more infrastructure like road and improved enforcement.