Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has described the recent petrol tanker explosion at Dikko Junction, Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, as a devastating and heart-wrenching tragedy.
During his visit to the scene on Saturday, Governor AbdulRazaq expressed deep shock over the scale of casualties and the severity of injuries sustained by survivors.
“The Forum is saddened by the petrol tanker explosion in Niger State, in which dozens of people have been killed or injured,” he said.
The Governor extended condolences to Niger State Governor Umar Bago, the bereaved families, and those injured in the explosion.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost their loved ones, and we wish the injured a speedy recovery,” he added.
Governor AbdulRazaq urged Nigerians to exercise extreme caution during incidents involving fuel spills, emphasizing the sanctity of human life.
He also prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased victims.
The tanker explosion, which occurred in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, claimed multiple lives, left many injured, and caused the destruction of properties worth millions of naira.
Witnesses reported that the tragedy began around 10 a.m. and lasted for hours, with fire services reportedly absent during the critical period.
Although the exact casualty figure remains unconfirmed, several victims reportedly lost their lives while attempting to scoop fuel from the leaking tanker.
Vigilante groups assisted in evacuating victims to safer locations and provided initial emergency responses.
This incident highlights a recurring issue of fatal fuel-related disasters in Nigeria.
Similar tragedies have occurred, including a recent tanker explosion in Majia Village, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, where many lives were also lost.
Both the Federal and Niger State Fire Services, as well as the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), are yet to issue official statements on the incident.
The tragedy underscores the urgent need for better safety awareness and response mechanisms to prevent such avoidable loss of life.