OREANDA-NEWS. July 20, 2012. The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engr. Andrew Yakubu, has condoled with the government and people of Rivers State over the tanker fire that killed 95 persons at Okogbe community, near Mbiama, on the East-West Road on Thursday.

 The GMD, in a condolence message, said he was shocked beyond words at the level of carnage and loss of lives caused by the incident.

 He said his heart and that of the entire NNPC family is “with the government and people of Rivers State, especially those who lost loved ones, at this time of great sorrow and grief.”

 He said the Corporation would continue to enlighten the public more about the dangers of pipeline vandalism and scooping of petroleum products from scenes of tanker accident.  

 “I therefore seize this opportunity to call on all Nigerians to cooperate with NNPC in the area of oil pipeline protection so as to realize our dream of instilling international best practice and minimize the use of tankers for products haulage across the country,” the GMD stated.