Ejiro Otarigho, a driver who drove a burning fuel tanker away from a community in Delta state, says he needs a new vehicle.
Otarigho, had last week, drove his tanker which caught fire at a residential area to a river bank.
His action and bravery earned him commendations from Nigerians, including the senate which has resolved to honour him.
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The upper legislative chamber had also asked President Muhammadu Buhari to confer Otarigho with a “befitting national honour as he may deem fit for his extraordinary act of bravery, courage, and skill that prevented the loss of human lives and property on a massive scale”.
Speaking in an interview with The Punch, Otarigho said the thought of hundreds of lives and property engulfing in flames as a result of the tanker fire gave him the spunk to drive the truck to a location where there will be no disaster.
The 46-year-old who started the risky job of tanker driving about 12 years ago, said though he had received a commendation from the Delta state government, he would prefer to have his tanker replaced rather than get a national honour.
“I have received calls from them (Delta state government) but I am not interested in any national honour of any sort right now,” he said.
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“I know God has brought me to a good place where my story is now being told. All I want is a replacement for my burnt tanker so I can go back to my job.
“I have just been at home and truck driving was the only way I fed. It has not been easy for me since I lost my tanker.”
Asked if he would like to get a new job and abandon the dangerous business of tanker driving, he said, “of course, I will. It is a risky job”.
“Imagine if I had died that day, nothing would have been said of me. If the government has something better for me, I will do it without looking back. All I want is to be able to take care of myself and my family legitimately,” he said.
