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.
The Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) Specialist Hospital, Minna, has recently accomplished significant medical milestones with its first brain surgery and total knee replacement surgery.
On Friday, January 16, 2025, a theatre team led by consultant neurosurgeon Dr. Uthman Uthman (MRCSed, FMCS) successfully performed brain surgery on a 19-year-old male who sustained severe brain injury and skull fracture following a road traffic accident. The procedure, which lasted two hours, was a resounding success, and the patient is currently being nursed in the newly remodelled Amenity Wing of the hospital. This achievement has significantly advanced the neurosurgical care available at the hospital.
The triumph was made possible with the full support of the hospital management, especially Chief Medical Director Dr. Bala Waziri, who has been making significant strides in transforming IBB Specialist Hospital.
Dr. Uthman explained the importance of his intervention: “I have noticed that many neurological surgical cases are referred from Niger State to us in Abuja, especially emergencies that mostly arrive late, such as traumatic brain injuries, strokes, and spinal cord injuries. These patients may pass away before obtaining care or become complicated. The absence of neurocritical care and a neurological surgeon has contributed to the preventable high morbidity and mortality from these cases.”
Dr. Uthman, who hails from Niger State, added that his efforts are part of his desire to give back to the state: “I am a trained neurosurgeon both in Nigeria and abroad. I and other concerned Nigerlites believe we can contribute to this critical aspect of subspeciality care in the state, especially in Minna, and possibly drive medical tourism from neighbouring states and beyond.”
Chief Medical Director, Dr. Bala Waziri, concurred that the desired neurocritical care in Niger State is achievable with the current commitment of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago in providing a befitting Intensive Care Unit and radiodiagnostic equipment such as CT and MRI scans. He attributed the team's achievements to the governor's vision to revolutionise healthcare delivery in Niger State.
Similarly, IBB Specialist Hospital, a pioneer and referral centre in orthopaedic care in Nigeria, successfully conducted its first total knee replacement surgery after many decades on January 13, 2025. The surgical team, led by orthopaedic surgeons Abdullahi Mohammad and Mustapha Ibrahim, performed the operation on a 65-year-old woman with bilateral advanced osteoarthritis of the knee. The surgery, which lasted about two hours, is the first stage of a sequential bilateral total knee arthroplasty. The surgery was successful, and the patient has since commenced ambulation exercises at the VIP wing of the hospital.
These surgeries, along with the overall progressive development and expansion at IBB Specialist Hospital, have been made possible by the resourcefulness and unwavering support of the hospital management, led by Chief Medical Director Dr. Waziri.
