National Orientation Agency (NOA) has tasked the Community Orientation and Mobilization Officers (COMOs) in the 27 local government areas of Jigawa State to launch extensive awareness campaigns on risk mitigation during emergencies.
The State Director of the agency, Malam Ahmed Tijjani Ibrahim, issued the directive during an emergency meeting with COMOs in his office. He was responding to the recent petrol tanker explosion in Niger State, which claimed numerous lives and left many injured.
He expressed concern over the repeated loss of lives caused by the dangerous practice of scooping petrol from fallen tankers, attributing it to a lack of awareness and values.
Malam Tijjani Ibrahim further explained that, in the recent time, the country has recorded several deaths caused by petrol tankers explosion with the most recent one in Majia community of Jigawa State.
“We expect that the tragic experience of Majia community should serve as a deterrence to citizens against the act of scooping petrol from fallen tankers”
He pointed out that, NOA will not relent in its drive to mobilize and sensitize citizens on positive behaviour change, the risks associated with scooping petrol from fallen tankers as well as how to handle all other emergencies.
“Most of the challenges we face as a nation today are purely attitudinal, propelled by erosion in our value systems and to correct this anomaly, NOA has recently embarked on a value orientation program tagged the National Identity Project (NIP),”
The NOA boss further called on relevant bodies and stakeholders to join hands with the agency in its bid towards achieving a healthy, peaceful and egalitarian society that discourages the public, especially the youths from engaging in pilfering of petrol, and other anti-development behaviours.
The state Director also highlighted some of the immediate and environmental dangers of scooping fuel such as explosion and fire risk, contamination of soil and water sources.
Others also include harming aquatic life and ecosystems as well air pollution exacerbating respiratory problems and other related health issues.
COV/USMAN MZ
