Two persons have sustained injuries following a twin petrol tanker explosion on Tuesday night at the sawmill area of Mokwa local government area in Niger State.
It came two weeks after the tanker explosion in Essa Community in Katcha local government area that left over 40 dead.
The Niger Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Aishat Saadu, confirmed the incident.
No fewer than 30 persons died and 40 others injured while scooping fuel from a trailer tanker that had an accident along the Agaie-Bida road in Katcha local government area of Niger State.
The accident was said to have occurred around 11am on Tuesday in Essan community along Bida to Agaie road.
Sources said the affected victims were involved in the scooping of fuel when it exploded and burnt the victims, some beyond recognition while the injured were taken to the hospital for treatment.
The Niger chairman of Tanker Drivers and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) National Ex-Officio, Comrade Farouk Mohammed Kawo, confirmed the incident in an interview in Minna.
He said that the tanker was coming from Lagos to the northern part carrying petroleum products.
Kawo lamented that over 30 tanker trailers were involved in accidents within October in that particular area of the road that is very bad for motorists plying the route.
He revealed that youths in the community have continued to scoop fuel and oil from trailers that have accidents on the road, adding last Sunday, a tanker trailer carrying groundnut oil, had an accident and its product was scooped among others in the same area.
Niger Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, in a statement, described the tanker explosion as worrisome, unfortunate and pathetic.
Several people have been confirmed dead following a deadly tanker explosion on Monday morning in Dan Magaji, Zaria, Kaduna State.
The tragic incident occurred around 8:30 am near the Rochas Foundation School along the Kaduna–Kano expressway bypass, between Kwangila and Dan Magaji.
According to eyewitness accounts by security analyst Zagazola Makama in a post via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, the accident involved two fuel-laden tankers and two passenger-filled Golf cars. The collision reportedly triggered five loud explosions, sending massive flames and thick black smoke into the air, blanketing the busy highway.
“All the occupants of the cars died on the spot, except one driver who survived but sustained severe burns,” one eyewitness told Makama.
Emergency services and security personnel swiftly moved to the scene, cordoning off the area and urging motorists to seek alternative routes as rescue and recovery operations continue.
The air in Dikko Junction still feels thick, 87 days after a fuel tanker loaded with 60,000 litres of petrol fell and later exploded as some residents stormed the scene to collect the spilled content.
Considering that the incident claimed no fewer than 92 lives, it is not only the memory of bellowing smoke that lingers, but also the loss of loved ones and a growing sense of abandonment worn by those who suffered serious injuries on that horrific day in January.
In the aftermath, the wheels of officialdom turned. Niger State’s Governor, affectionately called the “Farmer Governor,” Mohammed Umaru Bago, became the focal point for waves of sympathy. High-profile delegations descended upon the state’s liaison office in Abuja and the Government House in Minna.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Tajudeen Abbas, leading a contingent of lawmakers, did not mince words, calling the incident “very sad,” a grim echo of tragedies elsewhere.
His visit came with a remarkable promise: N100 million pledged by the House to aid the victims, particularly those battling agonising injuries in hospitals and those who lost their lives as a result of the explosion. This pledge was redeemed months later.
At the Government House in Minna, prayers were offered for the departed while solace was sought for the grieving. The APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, arrived with the party’s National Working Committee members, labelling the disaster “unfortunately,” subtly pointing a finger at the “human behaviour” of bystanders near accident scenes – a painful truth that often exacerbates these tragedies.
He expressed condolences and offered prayers. Information minister and his culture counterpart both registered their sorrow. The message was clear: Niger State was not alone in its grief.
But back in Dikko Junction, amidst the skeletal remains of burnt shops and the haunting quietness of a once bustling business environment, a different narrative unfolds as people whispered in tones of desperation edged with frustration.
For those who lost their sources of livelihood, relatives and even children, the only thing that is endless is their wailing and lamentations.
Micheal Oni, a trader in cold water, soft drinks and snacks, lost his entire shop and personal items worth N2.5 million. He recalled that government officials had met with those whose shops were affected in the explosion to take their pictures and obtain information as to what they lost in their shops, but they were yet to hear from any government official since then.
Oni said: “Since the fire incident, we have been waiting for the government to compensate us for our losses.
“Different groups of people have been coming here to console us.
“We are looking forward to what the government will compensate us with. We have not heard anything from them.
“We hear every time that the government has received money from some people but we have not seen or received anything to date.”
In order not to keep waiting on government, Oni had borrowed some money to help revive his business. But he can no longer start as big as he did initially.
“We cannot keep waiting without doing anything,” he said.
“I have tried to put my shop together by borrowing money from my cooperatives and start up again to earn the little I can earn daily.
“But we are still waiting. We have not heard anything from them.
“My two deep freezers, two big stabilizers, two standing fans, 10 crates of minerals and one generator were all burnt. The shop got burnt, the zinc and everything got burnt.
“We will have to refurbish it. In total, what I lost was about N2.5 million. The deep freezer is about N450,000 or N500,000.
“We have not got anything from the government since the incident occurred, even though there have been groups of people, including the police, who came to take records of what we lost.
“Some even came from Abuja. They told us that they would get back to us, but we have not seen anything from anybody.”
Sunday Balogun, a welder, echoes the frustration as he made preparations to return to farming to serve as an alternative source of income. He said he lost over N3 million in equipment and goods, yet he was being congratulated by people even when the government had not done anything to compensate them.
He said: “All the shops on our line got burnt. My generator, welding machine, filing machine, doors and windows all got burnt.
“We do not know what to do or where to start from. Up until now, I haven’t completed the renovation of my shop.
“The shop contained a store before, but now, I can’t even rebuild it. We don’t even know what to do. We are confused.
“Many people have come to take our names, but they have offered no solution. Up until now, we have not seen anything.
“People have been calling to congratulate us; that they heard we had been compensated. But I keep explaining that up until now, we have not seen or received a dime from anybody.
“We are appealing to the government to look at us and help us to minimise our loss.
“We heard about the Kano incident and learnt that they have been compensated. We don’t know why ours is still taking this long.
“We are still begging that the government should look upon us.
“I lost many things. My generator was worth about N850,000. I also lost welding machines, filing machines, 12 doors, 23 windows and many other things.
“If I have to calculate, it will be more than N3 million.
“We have written our names and even our account numbers. But up until now, we have not seen even 10 kobo. It is only congratulations we have been getting.
“We work the hard way now. Even this morning, before coming here, I had gone to the farm. I have been clearing ground because there is nothing else I can do.
“I had left farming for years, but now I have to go back to the farm because all I have worked for is gone.
“Before the incident, if I didn’t sell the window, I will sell the door to cope. I know I am not rich, but begging for food as I am doing now was never a part of me.”
Bashir Umar lost three shops containing spare parts, engine oil, POS terminals and even raw cash. He estimated his loss at more than N5 million.
“We got some promise that the federal and state government would compensate us. We heard of money being given to the state government to give to victims, but we have not received any.
“All we have done so far is to borrow money from family, friends and cooperatives. We are starting from the beginning.
“I lost more than N5 million. My three POS machines and even cash got burnt.
“Policemen came, other people also came with the police from Minna. They took our names, pictures and everything and went away.
“They said they would come back, but till today, they have not done anything.
“We are pleading with the government to come and support us because we lost a lot and we are starting afresh.”
Seething with anger, Umar added: “If the government does not respond to us, we will come out to show our anger.
“We don’t have anything on us. Even though we put up the shops, we don’t have enough capital to restart our business.
“We keep seeing the support being given to the government but we have not received any.”
Jubril Abubakar, whose maize grinding and ice block business represented 20 years of labour and hardwork, estimated his losses at a staggering N25 million. He rebuilt his shop at immense personal cost, borrowing, using his savings and clinging to faith in the governor.
“I trust the Niger State governor,” he said. “Maybe they are still making arrangements. I want to believe that soon, they will come.”
The N100 million donation from the House of Representatives specifically earmarked for those receiving treatment, has since been redeemed but has not been disbursed to those affected. Hence the impact of the gesture is yet to be felt.
Victims like Oni say they footed the medical bills of their families who were affected themselves. His daughter, Favour, who was badly burnt in the fire, had to be moved to a traditional healer after conventional hospitals offered little to no care.
“The government did not take care about the medical bills,” he stated flatly.
Human cost cuts even deeper
Khadijat Ahmed and her co-wife Ralia Mohammed spoke of the unbearable loss within their family – six children caught in the fire and four succumbing to their injuries. They recounted their trips to Gwagwalada hospital, the agonising decision to move their children when the promised help did not materialise and treatments seemed inadequate.
“Six people were affected in our family. Four died and two are remaining. The ones affected were Mohammed, Yahaya, Sani, Mansur, Rafia and Rabi. Only Mansur and Rafia survived,” Ralia said.
Mansur, one of the two children who survived, is recuperating at home and still had burns around his body when our reporter visited him. Rafia, our reporter was told, was taken to Katsina to get the healing he could not get in Dikko.
The family confirmed receiving N15,000, not from any official channel, but from a compassionate neighbour.
“Government did not bring any money,” Ralia stated.
Raliatu Salilu echoed the same situation. Her two children were victims, one got burnt and died in the explosion while the second one was recuperating at home.
“Government did not take care of their medical bills; we took care of them by ourselves.
“We received N15,000 from an individual who lives in this community but nothing from the government.
“We are appealing to government to come and compensate us. We have spent a lot on treatment,” she said.
Efforts were made to meet other families whose relatives were affected in the fire incident but many of them were not at home at the time the reporter visited the community. Although some of the victims were seen in their various houses spotting burns in parts of their bodies, none of them agreed to speak to our reporter because their relatives were not around.
Families who paid hospital bills, moved loved ones to seek alternative care, or borrowed from cooperatives to put food on the table are all waiting for the government promises to compensate them.
The reporter contacted the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) about the development, and the Director, Relief and Interventions, Salihu Garba, said the agency did a comprehensive disaster recovery assessment which he said had been submitted to the state governor, saying, “we believe that the governor will son act on it. But we have done our part in compiling every information that is needed.”
Garba said the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had reached out to victims with relief items and materials, adding that “the state will come up with a fast response soon”.
The Niger State Commissioner of Tertiary Health, Dr Bello Tukur, said the issue of compensation did not fall under his jurisdiction as he had to deal with the healthcare, especially of those who were burnt during the incident. He, however, debunked the families of the victims claim that they took care of their medical bills by themselves.
Tukur said: “I was the one who oversaw those who were burnt. We had to take them to the hospital to manage them.
“The issue of compensation is not under me. On the issue of those who said they paid their medical bills themselves, I will say that cannot be true because those we managed at the General Hospital, Sabon Wuse, I was there myself, we paid their bills.
“Although at a point, the federal government took over and after that, I do not know what precisely happened. But all those who were at the General Hospital Sabon Wuse when we were there for about 48 hours after the incident, nobody paid a dime, we took care of their medical bills and we even gave them N50,000 to take care of their feeding.”
Contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Niger State Governor, Mallam Bologi Ibrahim, directed the reporter to the Commissioner of Health regarding the medical bills and compensation but stated that he believed everyone affected in the incident had been compensated.
When he cited NEMA’s intervention efforts, the reporter told him it was not intervention that was being addressed but the monies donated to be given to the victims and the plan of the government to compensate those who lost their source of livelihood. He responded that he would get back to the reporter.
When the reporter contacted him later, he said that at the time the N100 million cheque was received from the House of Representatives, the governor travelled. He said he believed that once the governor returned, the N100 million would be disbursed to the victims.
The real victims of the Dikko explosion continue to sweep ashes, rebuild with borrowed cash, and wait for compensation they are praying would come.
Dikko Junction is a community holding its breath, caught between the memory of fire and the hope for relief. The question echoing through the rebuilt but empty shops is not just whether help will arrive but when, before hope itself burns out.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has extended heartfelt condolences to the victims and families affected by the recent tragic fuel tanker explosion in Enugu State.
He said: “This devastating incident has resulted in loss of lives and underscored the need for comprehensive measures, to prevent such occurrences in future.”
Nnaji added: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, who have lost loved ones in this tragic event. We also extend our wishes for a quick recovery to those injured.”
He emphasised the importance of implementing effective strategies to prevent future incidents.
The minister made the following suggestions: ‘’Routine checks of fuel tankers to ensure they meet safety standards, thereby reducing the risk of mechanical failures such as brake malfunctions.
‘’Launch nationwide campaigns to educate the public on the hazards associated with collecting fuel from accident scenes, highlighting the risks of explosions and health implications.
‘’Removal of roadblocks on hilly or sloping roads, as these, often pose safety hazards, especially for big vehicles navigating steep inclines or sharp descents.
‘’Encourage the use of inert gas systems in fuel tankers, to prevent explosions by reducing the presence of flammable vapors.
‘’Promote the development and utilisation of fuel containers equipped with passive protection modules, designed to resist explosions.’’
He reaffirmed his ministry’s commitment to collaborating with relevant agencies and stakeholders to enhance safety measures in fuel transportation.
Giving a breakdown of the deaths and the injured, the agency’s Director General, Abdullahi Baba Arah, said the death count as at 12 p.m yesterday stood at 98 while those injured were 69.
He said the fire razed 20 shops, destroying goods and properties worth millions of naira.
Also, 10 more patients who suffered severe burns have been confirmed dead.
Seven of the patients were said to have died at the General Hospital in Suleja while three others died at the General Hospital at Sabon-Wuse.
The Special Adviser to the Niger State Governor on Digital Communications, Abdulberqy Ebbo, announced this on his social media page.
According to him, at the General Hospital in Suleja, out of the 43 patients admitted there, seven have died, three were discharged to recuperate at homes, 10 others were referred for specialist care in Abuja, while the remaining 23 are still receiving treatments with varying degree of burns.
Ebbo said out of the 23 patients that were initially admitted at the General Hospital at Sabon-Wuse, three had died, relatives of 19 patients signed a consent form for them to be discharged against medical advice, and one patient currently in a critical condition is awaiting transfer to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital in Abuja.
The governor’s aide said an 18-man multi-disciplinary medical team from the state’s Ministry of Health, led by the Commissioner of Secondary and Tertiary Healthcare, Dr. Tukur Bello, the Special Adviser on Health, Dr. Shehu Ahmed, and the Special Adviser on Special Duties, Dr. Murtala Bagana, were on hand to provide urgent medical relief to the fire victims.
He added that following the assessment of current conditions of the patients, it was agreed that they would require intensive care, the reason some of them were referred to tertiary healthcare facilities in Abuja.
Niger state Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago had directed that free medical services and sufficient health workers be deployed to all the sites where the tanker fire patients are being treated.
Also, the Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed sadness over the high number of casualties and those injured in the tanker explosion.
In a statement, the state CAN Chairman, Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, assured the governor that the Christian community was in solidarity with him in these difficult times.
Also, 20 victims of the tanker explosion have been admitted for treatment at the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital in Abuja, The Nation learnt.
This followed the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the explosion victims be given swift transfers to tertiary medical centres for enhanced medical care.
A statement yesterday in Abuja by the media aide to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Rabiu Ibrahim, confirmed the development.
The statement also confirmed that two other victims were transferred to the Federal Medical Centre at Jabi in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The statement assured Nigerians that the ministry would continue to monitor the situations and update the public.
The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has called for an urgent action to prevent the recurrence of the explosion of tankers conveying petroleum products across Nigeria.
In a statement in Kaduna by its Secretary General, Prof. Khalid Aliyu, JNI said: “The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has received the sad news of unfortunate tanker explosion at Dikko Junction in Niger State with utmost concern and shock…
“It is so unfortunate that tankers conveying petroleum products are now sources of disastrous road accidents, with agonising loss of lives and property in Nigeria.
“The Dikko junction incident is too many a tragedy to be waived, taking into account that the junction is on a major highway connecting Northern Nigeria, particularly the North-West to Southern Nigeria.
“More so, same episodes had occurred in the most recent past in Jigawa State twice.”
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday mourned the victims of the Niger State tanker explosion.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the main opposition urged the Federal Government to put in safety measures to prevent a reoccurrence of the tragic incident on Nigeria roads.
“The Federal Government should take steps to put adequate measures to ensure safer roads to prevent the reoccurrence of such tragic incidents in the country.
“The PDP, however, commends the efforts and courage of the police, firefighters, the Federal Road Safety Corps and other agencies and patriotic Nigerians who helped to control the fire and rescued some of the victims.
“The PDP commiserates with the families of the victims, the Government and people of Niger State and prays to God to grant speedy recovery to the injured and fortitude to the families of the deceased at this trying time,” the statement said.
Also, the apex northern sociocultural group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has expressed sadness over the tanker explosion.
In a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the forum commiserated with family of the victims.
“It is indeed tempting to partly attribute the mad rush for the contents of the tanker to the high price that petroleum products command. “However, the reality is that such crass looting of accidented vehicles is not a new phenomenon and signals the decline of edifying cultural values which ordinarily dictate the principle of “Safety First, Always!
“In the rush for fast but ephemeral gains, people tend to compromise personal and community safety, let go of humanness and abdicate responsibilities for extending assistance to of any fellow humans in distress, with tragic but avoidable consequences, as gorily witnessed at Diko.
“ACF commiserates with members of Dikko community, the Zazzau-Suleja Emirate, as well as the Government and people of Niger State over the tragedy. ACF deeply mourns, as it prays for divine succour to all those affected and for quick recovery from the impact of the incident.”
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic petroleum tanker explosion that occurred on Saturday, January 18, 2025, in the Diko community of Niger State along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.
In a statement issued by the forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the ACF commiserated with the families of the victims and reiterated its call for increased public awareness on the dangers of rushing to collect inflammable substances from fallen tankers.
The tanker explosion resulted in the loss of over 80 lives, numerous injuries, property destruction, and significant disruptions to daily activities and traffic on the major highway.
Muhammad-Baba emphasized that the incident highlights Nigeria’s inadequate disaster preparedness and the critical need for improved management strategies.
He further lamented that the tragedy, coming just months after a similar incident in Majia, Jigawa State, underscores the public’s lack of awareness regarding the risks associated with scooping petroleum products from accident scenes.
“It is indeed tempting to partly attribute the mad rush for the contents of the tanker, to the high price that petroleum products command. However, the reality is that such crass looting of accidented vehicles is not a new phenomenon and signals the decline of edifying cultural values which ordinarily dictate the principle of “Safety First, Always!”.
“In the rush for fast but ephemeral gains, people tend to compromise personal and community safety, let go of humanness and abdicate responsibilities for extending assistance to of any fellow humans in distress, with tragic but avoidable consequences, as gorily witnessed at Diko.
“ACF commiserates with members of Diko Community, the Zazzau – Suleja Emirate, as well as the Government and people of Niger State over the tragedy. ACF deeply mourns, as it prays for Devine succour to all those affected and for quick recovery from the impact of the incident”.
ACF commended the prompt response to the incident as shown by of the Niger State Government led by Governor, Muhammad Bago, federal security and other relevant agencies as well as all other public and volunteer first responders;
“Calls for the mobilisation humanitarian relief (food, shelter, medications, etc.) for victims such all affected would return to what normal lives and livelihoods as could be managed under the circumstances.
“Calls for proactive measures to prevent future occurrences and to mitigate the impact. A sustained mass, multimedia and multi-pronged public enlightenment campaigns (to include community leaders, clerics, etc.) to educate and sensitise people on the dangers of petroleum and other inflammable substances”.
ACF urged regulatory and environmental bodies and the security agencies to pay more attention to enforcing laws and safety codes and less on corrupt and extortionist practices on Nigeria roads and highways.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has emphasised the need to take safety measures seriously to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The deputy speaker, however, condoled the people and government of Niger State over the devastating tanker explosion that occurred at the weekend along the Dikko-Maje Road in the State.
The tanker was reportedly conveying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol when it suddenly crashed, spilling it combustible contents.
The explosion reportedly resulted in the loss of several lives, leaving many more injured and families shattered.
Kalu in his condolence message commiserated with the families of the victims, acknowledging the irreparable loss suffered.
He said: “My heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones in this devastating tanker explosion. The pain and grief you must be feeling are unimaginable. I can only imagine the shock, denial, and overwhelming sadness that you must be experiencing.
“The entire nation mourns with you, and we share in your sorrow. I offer my heartfelt condolences. May God bring you comfort and strength during this incredibly difficult time.”
He urged relevant government agencies, stakeholders, and citizens to prioritize safety protocols, particularly in the transportation of hazardous materials.
While wishing the injured speedy recovery, Kalu who urged the relevant government agencies to intervene with necessary relief materials to provide succour to the bereaved also prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed.
Nigeria witnessed quite a significant number of disasters this year. Early in the year, specifically in the evening of january 16, there was a major explosion at deji oyelese close in old bodija, ibadan, oyo state. Many were injured and about 80 houses destroyed. There had been several ghastly motor accidents that claimed quite a substantial number of lives. Bandits and terrorists also sentenced many people to untimely deaths. There were several tanker explosions and trailers overturning. Several fire incidents with several casualties. Many parts of the country were also hit by devastating floods.
Indeed, information on 2024 Flood: National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) Dashboard shows that 154 local governments in 29 states were affected by flood this year. Other metrics by the center: 611,201 persons and 83,457 houses were affected, 225,169 displaced, 201 lives lost, 2,119 sustained injuries while 115,265 hectares of farmlands were destroyed. That is for this year alone. And we are sure the figures must be far higher because they are for the reported ones.
But two of the most significant disasters that shook the country were the Maiduguri flood in Borno State and the tanker explosion in Majiya, Jigawa State.
The September 9 devastating flood that struck Maiduguri after the Alau Dam in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State, (about 20 kilometres away from the state capital, Maiduguri) breached due to structural damage, is significant in several respects. The dam was constructed in 1986 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida for irrigation purposes, flood control, and water supply. It was the second time that the Alau Dam would overflow since 2012.
Of course, before this incident, there had been torrential rainfall in the state between June and September, when the rainy season peaked. The downpour across the state had worsened the flooding in Biu, Chibok, Konduga, Bama, Dikwa, and Jere local government areas over a period of time. But the collapse of the dam exacerbated the flooding in Maiduguri.
The state governor, Babagana Zulum, said of the disaster: “I am disturbed by the calamity that befell us on Monday, resulting from the increased volume. We are doing everything possible to provide relief to our people.
“We will provide all the necessary relief support to you, and we will ensure you return to your houses as soon as the situation improves for the best.” That is Zulum for you. He is one of the governors in the country most beset by mishaps and calamities. Yet, he has always stood to be counted.
For a state just recovering from devastating pains inflicted by Boko Haram terrorists, the floods were one too many. What with the extensive damage to infrastructure, farmlands and shelters, as well as severe impact on livelihoods. Hundreds of thousands of people were rendered homeless. Matters were not helped by climate variability and human-induced factors.
The floods, said to have claimed no fewer than 77 persons and led to the displacement of some 300,000 others, further compounded the economic and social challenges that residents were already facing. Major roads, like the Post-Office Roundabout, were flooded, leaving many areas inaccessible. Needless to say that many residents were stranded in certain parts of the city. Emergency services and connectivity were disrupted.
These were aside the challenges of health care, infrastructural needs, mental health and psychosocial support needs, shelter and, of course, food. Rice farms were completely destroyed as a result of the destruction of the dam on which many of them were dependent for irrigation. This would and is still having serious impact on availability of the product and consequently, high prices.
The Majiya accident happened at midnight of October 14 when the tanker driver lost control of the vehicle. Majiya is a remote town, a thing that made emergency service providers arrive several hours later, according to Dr. Haruna Mairiga, head of the Jigawa State Disaster Management Agency.
Fuel tanker tragedies have become a recurring decimal in Nigeria because people have refused to be taught something and have therefore learnt nothing. Otherwise, people would not just run but flee when accidents involving petrol are concerned. At least that should have been clear since the Jesse, Delta State, tragedy of October 18, 1998, in which about 1,082 persons died. Most of the victims had gone to scoop fuel from a pipeline ruptured by scavengers. Many Nigerians would still do the same thing in spite of the casualties from previous incidents.
Associated Press (AP) put tanker explosions in the country in perspective: “Most of the victims in the accident in Jigawa State were burned to death close to the tanker but some were caught in the fire as they tried to assist others, witnesses say. It is a recurring disaster in one of Africa’s top oil-producing countries, where tankers are the main source of transporting fuel across states.”
To underscore the fact that tanker explosions have become too familiar in the country, another near-tragedy involving another tanker occurred in the same Jigawa State barely a month after the Majiya incident, when a fuel-laden tanker went up in flames at the Jigawa-Kano border. Mercifully, no life was lost but the driver’s assistant was injured and rushed to the hospital. Apparently there were no casualties as such because the incident, unlike that of Majiya, happened in a farm outside the town, and also because of the effect of the Majiya incident, which made people to heed the call of the Kuho Village Head, Alhaji Zubairu Ahmad, not to go near the burning tanker because it may explode.
Statistics from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) indicate there were more than 1,500 such accidents resulting in 535 deaths in 2020 alone.
Governor Malam Umar Namadi, who was deeply moved by the disaster, extended his sympathies by words and immediate actions to alleviate the suffering of those affected. “We share in your grief and pain,” the governor said adding that the entire state mourned alongside the victims’ families.
Even President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also sent a high-powered delegation to the state to commiserate with the government and people. He reassured that the Federal Government, in collaboration with the states, would review fuel transportation safety protocols nationwide. Presently, this is done mainly by tankers.
Only about a week ago, The Jigawa State Tanker Explosion Investigation Panel that was constituted to look into the immediate and remote causes of the explosion and make recommendations on how such tragedy could be averted in the future submitted its report to the state government. The committee put the death toll so far at 209 while 99 others sustained injuries in the tragic explosion. We can now see why it qualifies for mention as co-disaster of the year.
All said; this is neither a prayer nor a wish. The bad news is that Nigerians should expect more of such tragedies in the future unless immediate actions are taken by the relevant authorities to avert them. So far, we have had the usual reactions after the fact: visits to the sites of disasters, offering of government’s assistance to victims, financial aids from other states and non-state actors, condolence visits and promises that the last disaster would truly be the last.
But all of these would amount to wishful thinking if the governments and citizens do not play their parts well. Some of these disasters that ended up claiming lives and property are avoidable only if people would do the rightful. Blocking of water channels should be avoided under any circumstance. Other flood mitigation measures include maintenance of infrastructure — dams, bridges and culverts — land use planning controls, building and development controls, improved traffic access, etc. All of these are important to keep floods away.
Similarly, it is high time the country minimised fuel transportation by road to reduce tanker accidents and explosions. In the meantime, however, roads must be well maintained so that tankers and other articulated vehicles would not be falling in the process of avoiding potholes. Road safety and other officials must be ready to enforce the appropriate discipline and road culture on drivers, among other safety measures.
Disasters, whether natural or manmade, are sometimes inevitable. But they can be minimised. It is only by adhering to all these safety precautions that we can minimise disasters in the country.
Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has said that the death toll from the petrol tanker explosion has risen to 171.
The governor revealed this while receiving members of the House of Representatives. He also noted that those injured are receiving treatment in various hospitals.
Governor Namadi emphasized that the state government has taken full responsibility for the medical care of the victims, describing the incident as a severe tragedy from God.
Speaking to news men shortly after the governor’s meeting the member representing Birninkudu/Buji federal constituency, Hon Adamu Yakubu (PDP), he expressed shock on the number of deceased.
Hon. Adamu Yakubu said: “It is really shocking, because there is no an accident any where that consumes over 100 lives of people at once. Even during the Boko Haram crises there is no incident where when over 100 people died”.
He commended the state governor and government for support and assistance to the victims and families of the deceased person, “this is real concern and commitment by the governor to his people.
Hon. Adamu Yakubu (PDP) “we now came, condoled and sympathized with the families, relatives, of the deceased and victims, governor and the entire people in the state over the lost and incident”.
