- The tanker explosion at Dikko Junction has claimed 98 lives, with 69 others injured, many of whom are receiving medical treatment.
- The blast, caused by a tanker carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also destroyed 20 shops in the area.
- Minister Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi condemned the recurrent fuel tanker crashes and expressed condolences to the victims’ families.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has provided an update on the devastating tanker explosion that occurred at Dikko Junction, revealing an increasing death toll and extensive destruction.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the explosion on Saturday was caused by a tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) losing control and catching fire.
In a statement issued by NSEMA Director General, Abdullahi Baba Arah, as of 12:00 pm on January 20, 2025, the death toll had risen to 98, with 69 people injured. Many of the injured are currently receiving treatment in various hospitals. The incident also resulted in the destruction of 20 shops in the area.
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Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, expressed his condolences to the Niger State government and families of the victims. He wished the injured a speedy recovery and commended the efforts of emergency responders in managing the crisis and preventing further destruction.
In his statement, Abdullahi lamented the recurring incidents of fuel tanker crashes on Nigerian highways, highlighting their devastating human and material costs. He recalled a similar tragedy in September 2024, when a fuel tanker crash on the Agaie-Lapai Road in Niger State claimed numerous lives.
“Sorrow should not be our routine experience over frequent fuel tanker crashes on our roads. Scores are often killed in these incidents, and the spectacle of mass burial of the victims, burnt beyond recognition, is a wake-up call to all stakeholders to avert these types of occurrences,” Abdullahi stated.
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The minister, who hails from Niger State, emphasized the heavy burden the state bears as a major transit route for haulage trucks connecting the Northern and Southern parts of Nigeria.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, for their renewed commitment to completing the reconstruction of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano dual carriageway, which traverses Niger State, within the next 14 months.
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