The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has expressed heartfelt condolences to the Niger State Government and the families of over 80 individuals who lost their lives in a fuel tanker explosion on Saturday at Diko Junction, Gurara Local Government Area, Niger State.
While wishing a speedy recovery to more than 50 individuals who suffered varying degrees of injuries, including burns, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi praised the efforts of various emergency responders in evacuating the injured and containing the spread of the inferno.
The Minister of State expressed deep sadness over the recurrent incidents of fuel tanker crashes on highways, resulting in human casualties, severe injuries, and destruction of properties. He recalled that barely four months ago, in September 2024, a similar fuel tanker crash claimed several lives on Agaie-Lapai Road, also in Niger State.
"Sorrow should not be our routine experience over frequent fuel tanker crashes on our roads," the Minister of State said in a statement. "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."
Sen. Sabi Abdullahi, an indigene of Niger State and the Baraden Borgu, noted that as a bridge between the northern and southern parts of the country, Niger State bears a heavy burden of axial load from haulage trucks. He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, for their renewed commitment to complete the reconstruction of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano dual carriageway, which passes through Niger State, within the next 14 months.
According to the Minister of State, "part of what is urgently needed are advocacy programs undertaken by stakeholders to address fallen fuel tanker issues, because no part of the country is insulated from these gory incidents." He emphasised the need for communities to enlighten their members on the precautions to take whenever there is an incident involving a fuel tanker. "In particular, they must be reminded that fuel is highly volatile and that no amount of spilt fuel they are trying to scoop is worth the tragedy that usually lurks around," Sen. Abdullahi observed.
He also called on road transport owners and road transport workers, especially those engaged in the haulage of hazardous materials such as fuel, to organise frequent refresher programs for their drivers, apprentices, and all who are involved in the delivery chain.