Tank-farm explosion: We will not spare culprits – Hon. Jime

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Hon. Emmanuel Jime, has declared that the Authority will not spare anyone or any firm found guilty in the tank-farm explosion at the Calabar Free Trade Zone (CFTZ) on July 17, 2017.

Jime made the declaration while addressing staff on the preparedness and resolve of the new management to promote safety consciousness in the Free Zones across the country.

A visibly saddened Jime told staff: “The Calabar tank-fire is a tragedy that must not be allowed to repeat itself. It was not just a sad day for NEPZA, but equally a sad day for the people of Cross River state and Nigeria at large.

“The date toll was 10 on the day I visited the accident-scene. I have been told it has now risen to 13. Anyone would be appalled at this preventable loss of human lives, but for some of us who hold human life particularly sacred, it’s a veritable complete nightmare.”

Saying that was why the Authority must get to the root of the matter, and also bring the culprits to book, Managing Director recalled how his first trip to Calabar upon assumption of office was something of a festivity, stressing that resolving the mystery of the fire disaster was a duty the living owe the dead.

He added: “Even as our prayers go to the dead, our resolve is to leave no stone unturned in unravelling the mystery surrounding the fire. It is a duty we the living owe the dead. This is why we set up a high-powered and independent investigative panel, headed by the General Manager (Zones Operations).

“We must use this ugly incident to devise a comprehensive template of human safety, environmental protection, compliance and enforcement, regular environmental impact assessments, enhanced monitoring and controls etc. I am glad to announce to you that the committee is about rounding off its work, and the report would be submitted any moment from now,” he assured.

It would be recalled that following the fatal fire incident, the Managing Director travelled to Calabar to inspect the damage as well as empathize and commiserate with the survivors who were receiving treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).