TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the victims of the tanker explosion in Onitsha, Anambra state.

A petrol-laden truck, which lost control, exploded after ramming into some buildings in the Upper Iweka axis of the city, on Wednesday.

The incident sparked confusion among residents and traders at nearby Ochanga market, where over 100 shops were reportedly razed.

The state police command said a woman and her child were killed in the incident.

In a statement by Garba Shehu, Buhari’s spokesman, the president expressed sadness over the tragedy, calling on the ministry of transport and other stakeholders to address the challenges on roads in the country.

“I am profoundly touched by the sight of the charred remains of an innocent mother and her child who are victims of this tragedy,” he said.

“While I express sadness over this tragedy, I must at the same time call for urgent action on the part of those concerned to stem these frequent fatal disasters on public roads.

“I call on the Ministry of Transport, the Federal Road Safety Commission and other stakeholders to urgently address the issue of safety standards in the country, with a view to stemming the embarrassing frequency of these tragedies.”