Port Harcourt — The Federal Government has been urged to declare a state of emergency on the East-West road linking most states of the South-South region.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Local Government Service Commission, Chief Mbadiwe Allen Ewoh, stated this yesterday in Port Harcourt while reacting to the recent fuel tanker incident at Okogbe community in Ahoada-West Local Government Area of the state. The commissioner said the declaration was essential to prevent further disaster. Ewoh, while stressing that the deplorable condition of the road was the major cause of the Okogbe fire incident, pointed out that there was a need for the Federal Government to urgently release funds to complete the road.

He lamented over the loss of lives in the fire disaster, which has increased to over 200, describing the incident as the worst disaster in the country in recent times.