The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has extended its heartfelt condolences to the victims of the tragic petrol tanker explosion that occurred at Dikko-Maje Junction along the Abuja-Kaduna Road in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State on Saturday.
The devastating incident claimed the lives of several individuals who were attempting to scoop fuel from a fallen tanker, while many others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
During a condolence visit to the General Hospital in Sabon Wuse, Niger State, NNPC Ltd’s Executive Vice President, Downstream, Mr Isiyaku Abdullahi, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives.
He offered prayers for the peaceful repose of the departed souls and wished the injured a swift and full recovery.
In his remarks, Abdullahi also urged the public to exercise extreme caution and avoid approaching fallen petrol tankers to prevent such heartbreaking tragedies in the future.
NNPC Ltd. said it remains committed to the safety and well-being of all Nigerians and will continue to advocate for greater awareness of the dangers associated with fuel-related accidents.
No fewer than 50 people lost their lives in a petrol tanker explosion on Saturday morning along Dikko-Maje Road in the Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.
The Niger State Federal Road Safety Commander, Kumar Tsukwam, while confirming the incident, said people were scooping the spilt fuel.
Tsukwam said those who went to scoop fuel and those who went to rescue them were engulfed by fire.
“More than 50 people lost their lives in the tragic incident,” he said.
He assured all that personnel of the corps and other sister agencies were on the ground for the rescue mission.
Similarly, the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, said the explosion occurred at about 9 am on Saturday.
He said the incident happened when a tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit crashed, and an attempt was made to transfer its contents to another tanker.
Baba-Arah stated that in the process, the PMS came into contact with a generator being used to pump the fuel, triggering an explosion that claimed over 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, is currently carrying out search, rescue, and recovery operations.
He said, “Those injured have been moved to the hospital for treatment while efforts are being made to recover the corpses of the deceased.”
He urged residents of the area to remain calm and cooperate with emergency responders as they work to mitigate the effects of the disaster.
In October 2024, a similar tanker explosion in Majiya town, along the Kano-Hadejia motorway in Taura LGA of Jigawa State, left 209 people dead and 38 injured.