NIGERIA: FG Sympathises With Niger Explosion Victims

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Federal Government has expressed its deepest condolences to the victims of the Niger petrol tanker explosion that happened on Saturday at Dikko Junction in Gurara Local Government Area.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nantewe Yilwatda, in a statement released on Sunday in Abuja by the ministry’s Information Officer, Rhoda Iliya, described the incident as tragic, stating that it claimed many lives and caused extensive property damage.

Meanwhile, African Culture TV also gathered that the death toll from the petrol tanker explosion has risen to 86, with 55 others injured and taken to hospital.

The Minister, while expressing concern over the rising frequency of tanker explosions in the country, issued a stern warning to motorists against reckless driving that could endanger innocent lives.

Yilwatda charged the citizens to strictly adhere to road traffic regulations at all times.

He said: “I am deeply saddened by the frequent occurrence of tanker explosions in the country, which always leads to loss of lives, injuries, and property damage,”

The Minister also sympathised with the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

He also commended the swift response of Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State and his team, particularly the State Emergency Management Agency, the Fire Service, and the Federal Road Safety Corps, for arresting the situation.

He thanked the Nigeria Police Force and other concerned Nigerians who assisted in evacuating the victims from the scene.

According to the Director-General of NSEMA, Mr Abdullahi Baba-Arah, the tragic accident resulted in 86 fatalities, with 80 individuals buried in a mass grave and the rest handed over to their families for burial.

NSEMA also revealed that the number of injured persons has risen to 55, with one fatality recorded at the healthcare facility in Dikko in the state.