By Muhd D Haidar
The State Director National Orientation Agency (NOA), Jigawa state Directorate, Mallam Ahmed Tijjani Ibrahim has charged the Community Orientation and Mobilization Officers (COMOs) of the 27 Local Government Areas to activate massive awareness campaigns on risk mitigation during emergencies.
Ibrahim gave the charge during an emergency meeting with COMOs in his office, while reacting to petrol tanker explosion in Niger State, which claimed so many lives and injured many.
In a statement signed and made available to Hotpen by the Head, Media and Communication, NOA JIGAWA STATE, Sarah Ogodo, said the Director lamented the incessant loss of lives as a result of scooping of petrol from fallen tankers, attributing such act to complete ignorance and lack of values.
He 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.
“The 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),” he said.
The NOA boss further called on relevant bodies and stakeholders to join hands with NOA 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.
He also highlighted some of the immediate and environmental dangers of scooping fuel such as explosion and fire risk, contamination of soil and water sources, harming aquatic life and ecosystems as well air pollution exacerbating respiratory problems and other related health issues.
