From Our Correspondent
Abuja, Jan. 19, ’25 (TNZ) President Bola Tinubu and other prominent Nigerians have expressed sorrow over the fuel tanker explosion that killed 73 people and injured many in Niger State on Saturday.
TheNewsZenith reports that the explosion occurred on Saturday at Dikko Junction, Gurara Local Government Area of the state.
The blast happened in the early hours of Saturday near the Suleja area of Niger state after some residents attempted to transfer gasoline from one tanker into another truck using a generator.
The fuel transfer sparked the explosion, resulting in the deaths of those transferring the gasoline and bystanders, Hussaini Isah, of the National Emergency Management Agency said.
In a statement from Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesman on Sunday, Tinubu said the tragic explosion brought about an immense human toll.
Tinubu expressed his condolences to the families affected, as well as to the government and people of Niger.
He underscored the tragic and preventable nature of the incident, as many victims were those scooping petrol from the overturned tanker.
The President directed providing comprehensive medical care to the injured and instructed security and road safety authorities to implement measures to avert similar incidents.
“President Tinubu strongly advises all citizens to exercise caution and avoid approaching accident sites.
“This is, especially true for those involving fuel-laden vehicles, due to their highly explosive nature.
“Additionally, the President has mandated the National Orientation Agency to initiate a nationwide educational campaign.
“This campaign will raise public awareness about the severe risks and environmental dangers of scooping fuel from fallen tankers,” TheNewsZenith quoted Onanuga as stating.
Following the explosion, Gov. Umaru Bago, on Saturday banned heavy-duty trucks from plying one way through the Dikko bridge.
Bago 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.
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The governor, however, expressed relief that it did not extend to adjoining communities in the area.
Bago decried the recklessness of some drivers. He directed that vehicles coming from the Maje axis should not pass through the Dikko Bridge.
Instead, he said that the vehicles should follow the route under the bridge and take a U-turn.
Meanwhile, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Malam Shehu Mohammed, also sent condolences to the victims’ families.
The Corps Marshal’s condolences are contained in a statement from Sunday in Abuja.
He described the human losses to the inferno as disheartening and disastrous. The FRSC boss warned that such incidents must never be allowed to happen again.
Mohammed said it was regrettable that despite the Corps’s enlightenment, many people still fell victim to the unfortunate tanker incident.
The corps marshal noted that the rescue teams had so far recovered 73 burnt bodies for final burial. Niger Government arranged the burial.
He directed FRSC teams to sustain joint operations with other stakeholders to ensure effective traffic management and prevent further incidents.
“The accident investigation unit of the Corps will collaborate with other agencies to unravel the causes of the explosion. They will also proffer solutions that could address future occurrences.
“Meanwhile, those who sustained injuries have been taken to different hospitals including Suleja General Hospital for further medical attention.
“Normalcy has returned to the area with free movement of traffic,” Mohammed said.
According to him, inter-agency collaboration and engagement with the public remains an important integral part of safety management.
“This is to ensure that the nation does not witness such incidents again.” (TNZ)
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