The Niger State Government has taken full responsibility for covering the treatment costs of those injured in a devastating tanker explosion that occurred on Saturday at Dikko Junction, along the Niger-Kaduna expressway. The tragic incident claimed over 90 lives and left at least 60 others with various degrees of burns and injuries.
The explosion reportedly happened after a speeding fuel tanker collided with a concrete divider on the expressway, causing it to overturn and spill its contents onto the road. Many locals rushed to scoop the fuel, but tragedy struck when the tanker ignited, allegedly due to the activation of a generator attached to its head.
The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed that both those scooping fuel and others attempting rescues were caught in the blaze.
Governor Umar Bago visited the scene of the disaster and met with victims receiving treatment at Suleja General Hospital.
During his visit, he announced the state government’s commitment to cover all medical expenses and expressed his condolences to the victims’ families. He urged tanker drivers to prioritize safety and placed a ban on vehicles from the Maje axis crossing the Dikko bridge, requiring them to use alternative routes.
“The Niger State Government has directed that no vehicle coming from the Maje axis should be allowed to pass through Dikko bridge,” stated the governor through his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim.
An 18-man medical team from the state’s Ministry of Health has been mobilized to provide urgent care to the victims. Led by Dr. Tukur Bello, the team has been actively treating patients at Suleja General Hospital and Shehu Musa Yar’adua Hospital in Sabon-Wuse. Additional supplies and cash donations have been provided to aid recovery efforts.
Meanwhile, the federal government, represented by Minister Mohammed Idris, has commended the state’s swift response. The minister extended condolences on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, who also directed the establishment of a committee to address tanker explosions nationwide.
