Osinbajo visits scene of Onitsha tanker accident

 Yemi Osinbajo, vice-president of Nigeria, visited the scene of the tanker accident, which claimed 69 lives at Upper Iweka in Onitsha on Sunday.

Osinbajo also went to Toronto Hospital, still in the city, where some of the victims are responding to treatment.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari, who was “very concerned and pained” by the incident, asked him to visit the state because he felt it was not enough to send a condolence message.

“Every Nigerian citizen matters to the federal government no matter his status or where he resides,” he said.

“Mr President asked me to come and first commiserate with Gov. Willie Obiano and Anambra people.

“He was very concerned that he felt it was not enough to issue condolence message and so asked me to come and commiserate with the people.

“I have been taken round to see the heroic action of the hospital staff and those involved in emergency.

“Unfortunately, many lost their lives but some have seen today and are responding to treatment.”

Addressing a crowd around Upper Iweka, the vice-president said he had been discussing with Obiano on possible ways that the federal government could assist to forestall further accident.

He commended Obiano for undertaking to settle the hospital bills of the victims.

Earlier, while briefing the vice-president, Obiano said Anambra government had banned long trucks and petrol tankers from plying roads in the state during the day.