President of RIMSON Godwin Wiggle
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Chuks Udo Okonta
The Risk Managers Society of Nigeria (RIMSON) has expressed her empathy to the State Government and the families of the victims of the sad incidence that occurred on the night of June 17, 2021, at OPIC Plaza, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja.
A statement by the Executive Secretary, RIMSON, Odeniyi Oluwafemi, said the society also commended the swift response of all Government agencies and private individuals to the distress call which would have otherwise resulted in mass casualty.
He noted that as a body of Risk Management Professionals, the society has made informed submissions on similar incidences over the years, adding that a memorandum was submitted on June 17, 2015, in response to the call by the Lagos State Government on how the menace of the immediate causes of tanker disasters can be addressed.
“We strongly believe that more proactive mechanisms should be put in place to forestall such incidences in the future and to mitigate the impact on lives and properties,” he posited.
According to him, the society recommended that movement of inflammable materials across the State should be regulated and monitored; all drivers of inflammable materials should be consistently trained and re-trained on Risk Management and safety techniques before and during emergencies; insurance as a viable Risk Transfer mechanism for all public buildings and vehicles transporting highly inflammable products should be enforced across the State and that owners of LPG tankers and other highly inflammable products should procure public liability insurance to compensate for property damage, injuries/loss of lives arising from accident.
Continuing, the society also recommended that appropriate government agencies like the Lagos Safety Commission and Insurance companies (and their Specialist Professional Service Providers) should carry out regular inspection & certification of all LPG tankers before being allowed on the roads; the proliferation of unauthorized LPG plants – “ticking time-bombs” -across the State, especially in residential areas should be curbed. Location Features – Internal and external, proximity to other assets, operations and exposures, design, construction & Installation Assessment must be carried out. Risk Protection Systems (HSE and Emergency Response Systems) must be in place and companies intending to establish these facilities must satisfy all necessary requirements stipulated by regulating agencies.
The society also submitted that members of the public should be continually sensitized via appropriate media platforms on basic safety measures in handling highly inflammable products and during emergencies like this.
The Risk Management Society of Nigeria, he said strongly believe greater efforts should be deployed to ensure similar preventable disasters never reoccur in the State and our nation.
