The Saturday, January 18, 2025, tanker explosion at Dikko Junction in Niger State has killed 98 people, while 69 others were injured, the state emergency management agency said in an update. The explosion occurred along the Dikko-Maje-Minnea road in Gurara Local Government Area and has since been widely condemned by political leaders, civil society organizations, and the general public.
The accident, which saw an entire tanker engulfed in flames, also razed 20 shops, with the property loss running into millions of naira. As rescue workers continue to treat the injured and rummage through the rubble for missing persons, many have faulted failure to enforce standards on Nigerian roads as one of the leading causes of the disaster.
Related News
Lagos Lawmakers Impeach Speaker Obasa Amid Multibillion-Naira Fraud Allegations
Appeal Court Reverses Decision to Remove Sanusi as Kano Emir
Lagos Lawmakers Impeach Speaker Obasa Amid Multibillion-Naira Fraud Allegations
El-Rufai Calls Defection Reports ‘Baseless Lies,’ Stays Put
Northern Senators Demand Action
The Northern Senators Forum, in a very scathing statement, condemned the explosion and called for more vigilance and enforcement of the safety regulations along the nation’s highways. The forum called on the FRSC and other relevant agencies to ensure that all tankers and heavy-duty vehicles were roadworthy and subjected to strict standards that would ensure the safety of Nigerians to operate.
“This disastrous incident brings to the fore the need for more vigilance and insistence on compliance with road safety regulations on our roads. This tragedy would have been prevented if the enforcement agencies had acted pre-emptively,” the NSF statement said. Senators also condoled with the families of those who lost their lives while calling for measures to prevent such tragedy from happening again in the future.
Related News
Lagos Lawmakers Impeach Speaker Obasa Amid Multibillion-Naira Fraud Allegations
Appeal Court Reverses Decision to Remove Sanusi as Kano Emir
Lagos Lawmakers Impeach Speaker Obasa Amid Multibillion-Naira Fraud Allegations
El-Rufai Calls Defection Reports ‘Baseless Lies,’ Stays Put
Labour Party’s Peter Obi Expresses Deep Concern
Another presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi from the Labour Party also has some comments regarding the tragedy, which he termed to be “heartbreaking” and also appealed to the government to ensure measures safeguarding tankers and hazardous cargo-vans become sterner. Obi also condoled his fellow people as regards the tragic loss of lives and continued dangers from the explosions emanating from tankers, which have become an epidemic within the country.
More than 70 people lost their lives while over 50 suffered injuries in the accident, according to reports. Such incidents that are a regular occurrence in recent times make it essential to enforce tougher measures to fight against the risk of tanker blasts,” Obi stated on X, his social media platform.
He further extended his condolences to the government and people of Niger State, asking for divine comfort for the grieving families and a speedy recovery for the injured. Obi’s comments align with the growing national frustration over the inadequate safety measures in place to prevent such disasters.
Governor Abba Yusuf and Minister Aliyu Abdullahi Mourn the Losses
Governor Abba Yusuf and Minister Aliyu Abdullahi Mourn the Losses
Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf added his voice to the national criticism, sending his condolences to the families who lost loved ones due to this explosion. In a statement issued by his media office, Governor Yusuf condemned the death of so many people in this catastrophic blow, describing it as a grim reminder of how fragile life is.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, was also filled with sadness over the incidents, which he described as “a wake-up call” for government and stakeholders to address the recurring issues. The minister hailed the emergency workers but said much more needs to be done to advocate for more programs and refreshers for handlers of hazardous goods such as petroleum.
“The Federal Government should take steps to put adequate measures to ensure safer roads to prevent the reoccurrence of such tragic incidents in the country,” Abdullahi said.
On-going Medical Response
The number of deaths keeps increasing as the medical response is still ongoing, with many of the injured being treated at various hospitals in Niger and Abuja. At least 10 patients have died at the General Hospitals in Suleja and Sabon-Wuse, while others are being transferred to specialized healthcare facilities in the Federal Capital Territory for further treatment.
The Niger State Government has dispatched a multi-disciplinary medical team to the scene, including the Commissioner of Secondary and Tertiary Healthcare, Dr. Tukur Bello, to attend to the victims on an emergency basis. Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has directed that free medical services be provided to all those affected by the explosion, with the government ensuring the deployment of sufficient health workers to the treatment centers.
The Christian Association of Niger State has also sent its condolences to the families of the victims. The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, condemned the incident, saying that fuel tankers were becoming a significant threat on Nigeria’s highways.
The accident, which saw an entire tanker engulfed in flames, also razed 20 shops, with the property loss running into millions of naira. As rescue workers continue to treat the injured and rummage through the rubble for missing persons, many have faulted failure to enforce standards on Nigerian roads as one of the leading causes of the disaster.
Related News
Lagos Lawmakers Impeach Speaker Obasa Amid Multibillion-Naira Fraud Allegations
Appeal Court Reverses Decision to Remove Sanusi as Kano Emir
Lagos Lawmakers Impeach Speaker Obasa Amid Multibillion-Naira Fraud Allegations
El-Rufai Calls Defection Reports ‘Baseless Lies,’ Stays Put
National Call for Urgent Action
The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has called for urgent action to prevent future tanker explosions, citing the Dikko Junction incident as part of a wider, alarming trend of fatal tanker accidents in the country. JNI’s Secretary-General, Prof. Khalid Aliyu, noted that the recent tragedy at Dikko Junction was particularly concerning due to its location on a major highway connecting Northern and Southern Nigeria. Other states have faced similar incidents; Jigawa is one example, and something needs to be done about the tankers.
Even the People’s Democratic Party in its condolence message called for the Federal Government to ensure proper safety measures are put in place on the roads to avoid another loss of precious lives. It praised the activities of the responders and condoled with the bereaved families over the tragedy.
As the nation reels from this disastrous incident, consensus is growing on the need for more to be done to ensure safe passage for drivers and pedestrians. The explosion in Niger State, therefore, should not only send shockwaves about the local scale of tragedy but also serve as a wake-up call for the entire country into questioning the present regulations and measures in place with regard to the safety of tanker trucks and other dangerous cargo vehicles. With calls for stricter enforcement of safety standards and better public awareness, Nigerians are demanding the government to take immediate action to prevent such a tragedy. The accident, which saw an entire tanker engulfed in flames, also razed 20 shops, with the property loss running into millions of naira. As rescue workers continue to treat the injured and rummage through the rubble for missing persons, many have faulted failure to enforce standards on Nigerian roads as one of the leading causes of the disaster.
Related News
Lagos Lawmakers Impeach Speaker Obasa Amid Multibillion-Naira Fraud Allegations
Appeal Court Reverses Decision to Remove Sanusi as Kano Emir
Lagos Lawmakers Impeach Speaker Obasa Amid Multibillion-Naira Fraud Allegations
El-Rufai Calls Defection Reports ‘Baseless Lies,’ Stays Put
Reported by Yusuf Alhakim and Edited by Chibueze Onwuka