Explosions: FG sets up committee to stem tide, evacuates Niger victims to tertiary medical centres

The federal government has said no fewer than 265 people lost their lives in petrol tanker explosions across the country between September 2024 and January 2025.

Minister of Information and National Orientation Alhaji Mohammed Idris stated this Sunday when he led a federal government delegation which included Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Nentawe Yilwatda, to the scene of the latest of the incidents in Suleja, Niger state. 

Speaking at the Suleja General Hospital where some of the victims were being treated, the minister said the federal government would do everything possible to ensure that survivors get adequate medical attention.

Idris, while thanking the Niger state governor, Umaru Bago, for his quick response, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed that the victims be transferred to the National Hospital and other tertiary medical institutions in the Federal Capital Territory for adequate medical care.

“Sadly, as we are in the hospital one of the victims died. We were told that eight of the victims died today,” he said.

Earlier at the palace of Emir of Zazzau Suleja, Alhaji Awwal Ibrahim, the minister, who expressed sadness over the incessant tanker explosions in the country, said the federal government had set up a committee comprising critical stakeholders with a view to finding the remote and immediate causes of these incidents in order to avoid reoccurrence.

He said: “The federal government and indeed all Nigerians are saddened by what happened. If you look at these incidents, in the last couple of months, from September to this time, we’ve had four of these major incidences.

“We had the first one between Ibadan and Ife, where a tanker exploded. Houses and cars and other vehicles were torched.

“A day after here in Niger state, again in Agayi about 48 persons lost their lives. This was on the   September 8, 2024, 48 people lost their lives. 

“Now, not long afterwards, on the 15th of October, again in 2024 about 144 people also lost their lives in Jigawa state in a similar incident, and now only yesterday, here at Dikko junction within this emirate, nearly 80 people have lost their lives.

“Now, if you put that together, you will see that over 265 people have so far lost their lives in this kind of incident, and this is really very worrying. 

“Government is very worried about that, and as a result of that, has set up a committee comprising the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, other critical stakeholders like  National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),  like Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), like the Petrol and Tanker Drivers Association (IPMAN) and all other stakeholders, to come together to find the remote and immediate causes of these incidents and how to avert the reoccurrence of these incidents  as we move on.”

Idris also said President Tinubu had directed the ministry and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to step up an awareness campaign to discourage people from scooping fuel whenever there is a tanker accident.

He said:  “Mr. President is really very saddened by this and he is determined to bring an end this kind of occurrence. And as a result of that, he has directed the National Orientation Agency under my ministry, to step up enlightenment campaign and educate people. “You cannot just have tankers by whatever reason involved in an accident, and then people rushing to site to scoop products. It is absolutely wrong. It has led to the loss of lives of hundreds of people, and the government will not allow this to happen again.

“As a result of that, this high powered committee will now make recommendation to the government with a view to finding a lasting solution to this issue.”

The minister also urged traditional institution and stakeholders to partner with the government in educating the people on the dangers of scooping fuel from tankers involved in accidents.

“We call on the general public, and we want to use the traditional institutions, especially the royal father here sitting, to enlighten the public that it is wrong when a tanker is involved in an accident for people to rush to that scene with the intention of scooping petrol from that scene.

“It has happened in so many places, and this occurrence cannot be allowed to continue again. We need to step up our public enlightenment campaign, together with all the traditional rulers, all the opinion moulders in the society and all the critical stakeholder so that this kind of incidents will not occur again. 

“As we leave here, we’re going to visit the hospital to see those that are injured and what immediate measures, as directed by the President will be taken to ensure that they recover very fast. 

“We also want to thank the Government of Niger state led by His Excellency Governor Umar Bago for the first response that he has done.

“The Niger state government has been very proactive. We call on them to do more to help in the education of our people so that events like this don’t happen again. 

“On a final note, let me once again commiserate with you, the royal highness, over what has happened. And we pray the Almighty Allah to grant the departed paradise.

“For all those that are in the hospital, we pray that they get well soon. And we urge all those who have the capacity to support to also rally around the government to ensure that this is brought to a permanent end,” he said.

…Yilwatda’s remarks

Also speaking at the Emir’s Palace, Mr. Yilwatda said the ministry had activated its emergency response mechanism to adequately take care of the survivors.

He said: “We are here to convey the message of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the people of Niger state. We are here to commiserate with families of those affected and ensure that everything is done to take care of survivors.

“I want to assure that we will be back within the week and activate all our mechanisms to take care of victims. All of us are sad, and we will do everything possible to ensure that this kind of thing does not happen again.”

…Emir responds

In his response, the emir urged the government to step up an enlightenment campaign to educate the citizens on the need to stay away from scenes of tanker accidents.

“I know that we are in the era of technology, but I advise the federal government to revert back to the era where it gather people at the emir’s palace and other public places to educate them on issues like this and other issues of public importance,” he said.

The royal father advised Nigerians not to risk their lives to scoop fuel from tankers involved in accidents, saying “it is a sign of greediness.”

 …86 bodies recovered, 80 get mass burial

Meanwhile, no fewer than 86 bodies burnt to death in the explosion which occurred at the weekend at Dikko junction in Gurara local government of Niger state have been recovered while 80 of them were given mass burial. 

Director General Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah confirmed this in a statement Sunday.  

It was learnt that the petrol tanker loaded with petroleum product spilled its contents Saturday morning in an accident at Dikko junction and that it however exploded after some residents of the area went to scoop its content.

He said all the corpses were recovered and buried accordingly.

The NSEMA boss said: “80 of them were buried in a mass grave at the Dikko Primary Health Care premises, while five were taken away for burial in the town by their relatives, and one died at the Dikko Primary Health Care.”

Arah further added that “the mass burial was conducted by NSEMA in collaboration with the Gurara LGA and volunteers on Saturday, January 18, 2025, between 5:00 pm and 12:00 am.”

He also said the number of injured persons now stands at 55, and were currently receiving medical attention.

…Gov Bago

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago had, earlier, expressed shock over the accident, describing it as heart-breaking and unfortunate. 

“This is a national tragedy, worrisome, heartbreaking and unfortunate”, he said during a visit to the scene at the weekend. 

He announced the prohibition of heavy duty trucks from plying one way through the Dikko junction bridge, adding that, “no vehicle coming from Maje axis should be allowed to pass through the Dikko Bridge”.

He decried the recklessness of some drivers, explaining that “it is not acceptable for any vehicle coming from Maje to pass through the bridge; rather they should follow under the bridge and take a U-turn appropriately.”

He enjoined the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to establish a detachment in the area to ensure the enforcement of the directive, while calling on all relevant transport Unions to cooperate with the Corps.

The governor also called on the federal government to expedite action on the completion of the Minna-Suleja road, adding that “the delay in the road project is contributing to the continuous loss of many lives.”

The governor thanked the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Fire Service, Road Safety, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) among other agencies that contributed to the evacuation of victims. 

He directed that doctors from Minna Hospitals should be deployed to assist in treating the injured victims currently receiving treatment in Suleja General Hospital.