The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has appealed to the Federal Government, the NNPC and oil companies to sensitise communities on the dangers of getting closer to petroleum products.

Mrs Jonathan made the plea in Port Harcourt last Thursday when she visited victims of Okogbe community fuel tanker explosion on admission at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

She also appealed to the Federal Government and Governors in the South-South to assist those who were injured and receiving treatment in various hospitals.

Mrs Jonathan urged the government to assist victims of the incident who needed rehabilitation to get settled after their recovery.

“This is a great loss and a sad incident. Though, we the South-South people are poor and producing the bulk of the nation’s wealth, that does not mean we should lose our lives, because even if you are rich, you need to be alive to spend the money. “If you see a fallen tanker, please do not go close to it,” she said.

She commended the Rivers Government for its quick intervention and efforts to save the lives of the victims.

The first lady praised the hospital for treating the victims without emphasis on money.

She urged pipeline vandals to desist from damaging pipelines because of dangers associated with such acts.

The first lady later presented cash donations to victims on admission at the hospital.

Earlier,  Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Aaron Ojule, had said that nine persons injured by the fire were on admission at the hospital.

He said 49 others were treated and discharged at Ahoada General Hospital on July 12, the day of the incident.

Ojule said the death toll so far on the incident was 156 while the estimated number of victims affected was 218.

He said the hospital had created special wards for the victims and placed its doctors on 24 hours service.