Vice President Yomi Osinbajo  on Wednesday visited
the scene of the Onitsha tanker fire disaster in
Anambra State.

He said he was on sympathy visit, saying  “every
Nigerian citizen matters to the Federal Government
no matter his status or where he resides.”

Osinbajo, who arrived about 4.10pm, accompanied
by his host, Chief Willie Obiano, and the Senator
representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Dr. Chris Ngige, said President Muhammadu Buhari was very concerned and pained by the fuel tanker
tragedy.

He added that the President felt that it was not
enough to send a condolence message and therefore had asked him to come and commiserate with the people of Anambra State.

The Vice President said,  “I came on the instruction of President Muhammadu Buhari, who was greatly
disturbed by the unfortunate accident.

“He asked me to come and first commiserate with
Governor Obiano and Anambra people. He was very
concerned that he felt it was not enough to issue a
condolence message and so asked me to come and
commiserate with the people.

“I have been taken round to see the heroic action of
the hospital staff and those involved in emergency.

Unfortunately, many lost their lives, but some have
seen today and are responding to treatment.”
On arrival, Osinbajo visited Toronto Hospital, where
some of the patients of the accident were receiving
treatment and condoled with them.

He told a large crowd that gathered around the
Asaba  Park, scene of the accident, that he had also
been discussing with Obiano on possible ways of the
Federal Government cooperating with Anambra State
to forestall further accident.

He commended the governor for undertaking to
settle the hospital bills of the victims.
Obiano gave the casualty figure at 42 deaths and 17
injured.

He also said Anambra State Government had banned
long trucks and petrol tankers from plying the roads
in Anambra during the day.

He added that the government had banned heavy
duty vehicles from plying state roads, adding that
they must trans-load their contents on getting to
state roads.