By Umar Faruk, Birnin Kebbi
The Kebbi State Police Command has taken a significant step towards mitigating the risks of tanker and gas-related incidents in the state. On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, the Command organized a comprehensive sensitization programme on the implications of explosions at the Conference Hall, State Headquarters, Gwadangaji, Birnin Kebbi.
According to CSP Nafi'u Abubakar, Police Public Relations Officer, Kebbi State Command, the programme was designed to equip participants with the requisite knowledge on the nature, causes, and preventive measures of explosions. The Commander, Explosive Ordnance Disposal – Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Base 26, Kebbi State, SP Abubakar Yahaya, emphasized the importance of acquiring personal protective equipment (PPE), regular maintenance of equipment, and adherence to best safety practices. "The safety and security of the good people of Kebbi State is our top priority, and we must work together to prevent such tragedies," he said.
The programme brought together critical stakeholders, including the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), PENGASON, The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), State Trailer and Tanker Welders Association, NUPENG Mechanics associations, and Scraft Association. The forum provided an opportunity for participants to engage in fruitful discussions, share experiences, and offer solutions and recommendations to enhance public safety and prevent future tragedies.
The Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, CP Bello M Sani, thanked the participants for honouring the Command's invitation and urged all stakeholders and the general public to remain vigilant and adhere strictly to the highlighted safety guidelines. "We must work together to prevent such tragedies, and I urge everyone to take the safety guidelines seriously," he said.
The sensitization programme is part of the Command's efforts to address the menace of tanker explosions and gas-related incidents that have recently claimed countless lives and caused wanton destruction of properties worth millions of Naira across the Federation.