No fewer than 50 persons lost their lives in a petrol tanker explosion on Saturday. The incident happened on the Dikko-Maje road opposite Badeggi fuelling station in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger.
Mr Kumar Tsukwam, Federal Road Safety Commander (FRSC) in Niger, confirmed this in Minna and revealed a loaded petrol tanker fell at the scene of the incident with people scooping the spilling fuel, unaware of the impending danger.
Tsukwam said those who went to scoop fuel were engulfed by the flames just as those who went to rescue them were also affected. He said more than 50 people lost their lives in the tragic incident.
Tsukwam, however, gave an assurance that personnel of the corps and other sister agencies were on ground for the rescue mission. Tsukwam confirmed that his men were on the scene, working tirelessly to rescue those trapped.
Similarly, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), said the explosion occurred at about 9.am on Saturday.
He said the incident happened when a tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) crashed, and an attempt was made to transfer its contents to another tanker.
In the process, the PMS came into contact with a generator used to effect the transfer, triggering an explosion that claimed more than 50 lives. He added that many other persons were injured, while properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed.
Baba-Arah said NSEMA, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Suleja LGA Emergency Committee and volunteers, were carrying out search, rescue and recovery operations.
He said the injured have been moved to the hospital for treatment while efforts eere being made to recover the corpses of the deceased. More details are expected as the response operation is still ongoing.
He urged residents of the area to remain calm and cooperate with emergency responders as they work to mitigate the effects of the disaster.
NGF mourns tanker explosion victims
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Saturday expressed sorrow over the victims of the tragic tanker explosion at Dikko Junction along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway in Niger State.
In a statement issued by its Chairman, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, the forum described the explosion, which claimed over 50 lives and left many others injured, as a heartbreaking tragedy.
AbdulRazaq stated that the incident had cast a shadow of grief over the entire nation. He called for the urgent enforcement of safety measures, particularly concerning the transportation and handling of combustible materials across Nigeria.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Niger State, as well as to the families who have suffered unimaginable loss in this tragedy.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those injured, and we wish them a swift and complete recovery,” AbdulRazaq said.
He added that the NGF was united in calling for stricter enforcement of safety measures across the country, particularly regarding the transportation and handling of hazardous materials.
“This incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to enhance our regulatory frameworks to prevent such occurrences in the future,” he emphasised.
AbdulRazaq also commended the swift response of emergency services, first responders, and security agencies in managing the aftermath of the disaster.
He urged all citizens to remain vigilant and prioritise safety at all times.
Finally, he prayed for the souls of the departed to rest in peace and for their families to find the strength to endure this time of profound grief.
Tanker explosion: Bago bans heavy duty trucks from plying one-way route
Meanwhile, Governor Umaru Bago of Niger has banned heavy-duty trucks from plying one way through Dikko bridge, following a tanker explosion that claimed many lives on Saturday.
The governor gave the directive during a visit to the scene of the explosion at Dikko junction in Suleja local government area of the state.
He described the incident as pathetic while expressing sadness over the loss of lives. He, however, expressed relief that it did not extend to adjoining communities in the area.
Bago decried the recklessness of some drivers just as he directed that vehicles coming from the Maje axis should not pass through Dikko Bridge.
He said that the vehicles should, instead, follow the route under the bridge and take a U-turn.
The governor called on the sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to establish a detachment in the area to enforce the directive. He also urged transport unions to cooperate with the FRSC.
Bago attributed the frequent accidents in the area to the delay in completing the Minna-Suleja road project and called on the federal government to expedite action on the project.
He commended the state Emergency Management Agency, Fire Service, FRSC and the National Union of Road Transport Workers for their roles in evacuating victims of the explosion.
He noted that doctors from Minna hospitals would be redeployed to assist in treating the injured victims currently receiving treatment at Suleja General Hospital.
More than 50 people lost their lives in the Saturday morning incident caused by scooping of fuel from the articulated vehicle.
