The Nigerian government has established a committee to tackle the frequent occurrence of tanker explosions in the country. The committee’s aim is to find a lasting solution to these incidents, which have claimed numerous lives. The government has also ordered the immediate transfer of victims from the recent explosion in Suleja, which occurred near Dikko Junction, to tertiary health facilities for better medical care.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the announcement during a visit to Suleja, Niger State, where he was accompanied by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Nentawe Yilwatda, to condole with the Niger State government and residents over the tragedy. The delegation also assessed the situation firsthand.
During the visit, the delegation first stopped at the palace of the Emir of Zazzau Suleja, Awwal Ibrahim. The Minister expressed deep sympathy over the devastating effects of the explosion and assured that the government was committed to identifying the causes of such incidents to prevent future occurrences.
He also highlighted that the committee would include representatives from the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), and other stakeholders.
Idris noted the alarming frequency of tanker-related fatalities, with approximately 265 lives lost in the past five months alone. He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had ordered investigations into the root causes of these accidents.
The minister also revealed that the President had directed a stronger public awareness campaign through the National Orientation Agency to discourage people from scooping fuel from accident sites, which has contributed to numerous fatalities.
While at Suleja General Hospital, the Minister spoke about the critical condition of some of the survivors, confirming that one of them had passed away during the visit.
He reassured the public that the government would provide all necessary support for the victims, including evacuating those in critical condition to specialised care units in tertiary hospitals.
Idris condemned the reckless act of scooping fuel from tankers involved in accidents, calling it dangerous and unacceptable. He called on the public, including traditional institutions, to help raise awareness about the dangers of such behavior.
The Emir of Zazzau Suleja, Awwal Ibrahim, echoed the need for more public education and suggested the revival of traditional awareness programs in public spaces to deter such risky actions.
The delegation also included the Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Mallam Jibrin Baba-Ndace, Abdulhamid Dembos, Director-General of Nigerian Television Authority, and Mohammed Bulama, Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.
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