A sad fuel tanker explosion over the weekend in Niger State killed over 70 people including children and a pregnant woman.
The incident happened at Dikko Junction along Niger and Kaduna expressway, 56 people were badly burnt and are in the hospital.
Accrding to reports, the incident which took place on Saturday January 18, 2024 at Dikko Junction Suleja LGA Niger State, claims 70 lives (including community people and passersby) and 56 injured.
FreshNews.NG learnt that a speeding petrol tanker lost control and fell, fuel spilled and residents were trying to scoop it and that’s when it exploded.
An eyewitness Ibrahim Suleiman (resident) was on a motorcycle close to the scene when the tanker crashed.
He said there was no traffic officials or emergency personnel around to warn the residents.
“Then the tanker started spilling fuel. People rushed to scoop it and that’s when I heard the explosion,” he said.
Another eyewitness Modestus said the tanker exploded after the head of the vehicle detached from the main body.
“No fire service or emergency official was around, only local vigilante came to assist,” he said.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Niger State Emergency Services (NSEMA) confirmed the figures and said that 23 were admitted at General Hospital Suleja, 19 others at a nearby hospital.
The agencies estimated millions of naira worth of property destroyed.
In a statement, thr NSEMA said the explosion occurred when people were trying to transfer petrol from the crashed tanker to another vehicle. A generator powering the transfer process sparked and ignited the fuel.
NEMA’s Director General Mrs. Zubaida Umar described the act of fuel scooping as dangerous and called for more public awareness.
“Despite all the sensitization we have been doing, this kind of tragedy still occurs due to negligence,” she said.
The Federal Fire Service Controller-General Abdulganiyu Jaji said there should be more safety measures in fuel transportation.
He told tanker operators to train and discipline their drivers to prevent reckless driving and accidents.
Governor Mohammed Bago (Niger State) commiserated and asked residents to be more safety conscious.
“This is a sad and avoidable tragedy,” he said and directed state agencies to do more for the victims.
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has directed NMDPRA to investigate the incident.
Lokpobiri advised Nigerians to never approach fuel tankers in emergency situations, he warned.
This is the latest in a series of such:
Majiya, Jigawa (October 2024): Over 150 people died when a tanker fell and caught fire as people were scooping fuel.
Maitama, Abuja (September 2024): A tanker hit a bus on Shehu Shagari Way, fire broke out and 2 people were injured.
Agaie-Lapai Road, Niger State (September 2024): Tanker and another vehicle crashed, 48 people died.
Ibadan, Oyo State (September 2024): Petrol tanker caught fire in Iyana-Ajia, many vehicles were destroyed.
The Niger State tanker explosion is a wake up call to the consequences of recklessness and poor safety. We all must work together – government agencies, fuel transporters and the public. Every life lost in such avoidable tragedy is a call to action.
Let’s be safe and be vigilant in emergency situations. What do you think authorities should do to reduce tanker accidents in Nigeria? Comment below.