The death toll from the tragic fuel tanker explosion at Dikko Junction in Niger State has risen to 86, with 55 others injured, according to Abdullahi Baba-Arah, the Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA).
The devastating incident, which occurred on Saturday, has prompted an outpouring of condolences from leaders across the country, including President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, state governors, and other stakeholders.
The bodies of the victims have been given a mass burial in Dikko, Niger State, as the community struggles to come to terms with the tragedy.
In a statement released on Sunday, January 19, Baba-Arah explained that the agency, in collaboration with Gurara Local Government Area and courageous volunteers, carried out the mass burial between 5:00 pm and midnight.
“Of the deceased, 80 were buried in a mass grave at the Dikko Primary Healthcare Centre premises, while five were taken by their relatives for burial in the town. One additional fatality was reported at the healthcare centre,” he said.
As of Saturday, the death toll had surpassed 50, a figure confirmed by Kumar Tsukwam, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Commander in Niger State. Tsukwam explained that the explosion occurred after a loaded petrol tanker overturned at the scene, prompting people to gather and scoop fuel. Tragically, the gathered crowd was engulfed by flames, with rescuers also being affected.
Despite the catastrophic situation, personnel from the FRSC and other agencies worked tirelessly to rescue those trapped in the wreckage, Tsukwam added.
Baba-Arah further stated that the explosion occurred at around 9:00 am on Saturday when a tanker carrying premium motor spirit (PMS) crashed, and an attempt was made to transfer its contents to another tanker.
The Niger State government has expressed profound sadness over the incident.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has announced that the Federal Government has ordered the immediate transfer of victims of the explosion from Suleja General Hospital to tertiary healthcare facilities for enhanced medical care.
Idris made this announcement in Suleja, Niger State, on Sunday, when he led a high-powered Federal Government delegation, including the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, and heads of several agencies. The delegation visited the scene of the explosion and met with local authorities to express condolences to the people of Niger State.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is deeply saddened by the tragedy. He has asked us to come here to assess the situation. We have visited the wards and seen the critically injured. Sadly, one of the victims passed away during our visit, marking the eighth death from the explosion today. This situation underscores the urgent need for emergency medical attention, which the Federal Government is addressing,” Idris said.
The Minister praised the swift response of the Niger State Government, particularly in providing emergency medical care.
Idris also expressed concern over the alarming frequency of tanker explosions, revealing that approximately 265 lives have been lost to such incidents in the past five months. He announced that President Tinubu had constituted a committee to investigate the root causes of these explosions and recommend effective measures to prevent future occurrences.
“The President is deeply troubled by these tragedies and has ordered the establishment of a high-powered committee to examine the incidents. Since September last year, four major tanker explosions have occurred. The first, between Ibadan and Ife, resulted in a large fire that engulfed houses and vehicles. Just a day later, another explosion in Niger State at Agaie claimed the lives of approximately 48 people. On 15 October 2024, a similar incident in Jigawa State led to the deaths of around 144 people. Now, this explosion at Dikko Junction has claimed nearly 80 lives.
“In total, over 265 lives have been lost. The government is deeply concerned and has established a committee made up of key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, NEMA, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the Federal Road Safety Corps, NARTO, NUPENG, IPMAN, and others. This committee will identify the causes of these incidents and propose measures to prevent future occurrences,” he said.
Idris also revealed that, in response to the President’s directive, the National Orientation Agency would intensify public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the dangers of scooping fuel from accident scenes. He condemned the practice, emphasising that such actions are unacceptable and endanger lives.
Earlier, the delegation paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Suleja, Alhaji Auwal Ibrahim, before visiting the victims of the explosion at Suleja General Hospital and inspecting the scene of the incident.
The delegation also included the directors-general of the Nigerian Television Authority (Abdulhamid Dembos), Voice of Nigeria (Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace), and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (Dr Mohammed Bulama).
…Exercise caution, avoid accident sites involving fuel-laden vehicles – President Tinubu
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the devastating fuel tanker explosion in Niger State
In a statement issued on Sunday, President Tinubu mourned the victims and extended his condolences to the families affected, as well as to the government and people of Niger State.
He emphasised the tragic and preventable nature of the incident, noting that many victims were those scooping Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from the overturned tanker.
President Tinubu directed the provision of comprehensive medical care to the injured and instructed security and road safety authorities to implement measures to avert similar incidents.
He advised all citizens to exercise caution and avoid approaching accident sites, especially those involving fuel-laden vehicles, due to their highly explosive nature.
Furthermore, President Tinubu mandated the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to initiate a nationwide educational campaign to raise public awareness about the severe risks and environmental dangers of scooping fuel from fallen tankers.
…Urgent need for stricter safety measures — Peter Obi, Atiku, NGF
Reacting to the tragedy in a statement on Sunday, former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, lamented that tanker explosions have “sadly become increasingly recurrent in recent times.”
He emphasised the need for stricter safety measures, stating that the recorded incidents.
Obi commiserated with the families of the victims, saying, “I also extend my condolences to the Government and people of Niger State over this devastating incident. May God grant them, and all of us, the fortitude to bear this loss, eternal rest to the departed, and a swift recovery to the injured.”
Also reacting to the incident on Saturday night, the former Vice President, Atiku, consoled the families of the victims.
“I have been updated that the number of persons that died in the fuel tanker explosion in Dikko, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, now stands at 60. I am sad and heartbroken by the scope of this tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased and the people and government of Niger State. May the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace,” he prayed.
In the same vein, The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has expressed sorrow over the victims of the tragic tanker explosion at Dikko Junction along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway in Niger State.
The explosion, which claimed over 50 lives and left many others injured, was described as a heartbreaking tragedy by the forum’s Chairman, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
AbdulRazaq stated that the incident had cast a shadow of grief over the entire nation.
He called for the urgent enforcement of safety measures, particularly concerning the transportation and handling of combustible materials across Nigeria.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Niger State, as well as to the families who have suffered unimaginable loss in this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with those injured, and we wish them a swift and complete recovery,” Mr. AbdulRazaq said.
He also commended the swift response of emergency services, first responders, and security agencies in managing the aftermath of the disaster.
He urged all citizens to remain vigilant and prioritize safety at all times.
The Federal Government has also expressed its condolences to the government and people of Niger State, with the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nantewe Yilwatda, describing the incident as tragic and heartbreaking.
Also, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has also reacted to the incident, warning against negligence and disregard for regulations that can lead to such catastrophic incidents.
He directed all state Commissioners of Police to strengthen their Motor Traffic Divisions to ensure strict compliance and enforcement of established protocols and traffic regulations on highways.
…Risks are enormous, lives too precious to be lost unnecessarily — Lokpobiri
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has sympathised with the government and people of Niger State over the explosion of a petrol-ladened tanker at Dikko Junction along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on Saturday morning.
The minister described the incident, which resulted in the loss of lives and left several others injured, as a tragedy.
“I am deeply saddened by this tragic event, and my thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. May the souls of the departed find eternal rest, and may God grant their families the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” Lokpobiri said.
The minister also prayed for the speedy recovery of those who sustained injuries in the accident.
“To the injured, I pray for their swift and complete healing. This is a time for us to stand together as a nation in solidarity with all those affected by this tragedy. As much as we strive to implement safety measures across the petroleum supply chain, I must strongly appeal to the public to avoid approaching petrol-laden tankers in the event of an accident,” he said.
The minister has directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to commence an investigation into the incident, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of petroleum transportation across the country.