PENGASSAN mourns petroleum explosion victims, blames FG for negligence

By allcitynews.ng

The President of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Comrade Festus Osifo has expressed shock and mourned the victims of the petroleum explosion.

Just as while lamenting the lost of lives, he blamed the incident on Federal Government’s failure to carry out its constitutional responsibility in the security of lives and property.

Osifo who expressed the sadness of PENGASSAN at the lost of lives, reiterated that “failure of government and good governance” led to that unfortunate incident where many lives were lost.

Addressing Labour Writers Association of Nigeria (LAWAN) on Tuesday 26 April 2022, the union helmsman blamed both federal and state governments for not taking not taking proactive step in tackling the illegal oil dealers. “Where both that state and federal governments not aware of those illegal operations prior to the ugly incident that claimed lives. The failure of governments led to the death of those people.”

It would be recalled that many reportedly died and several persons seriously injured and six vehicles razed on Friday night when an explosion rocked an illegal crude oil refinery in Abaezi forest, Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.

Though government is reportedly losing an estimated $4 billion yearly due to oil theft activities, yet there has not been drastic step to halt the work.

Oil theft, otherwise known as “bunkering” by some people, has been a source of concern to many stakeholders across the country.