The Jigawa Tanker Explosion Investigation Panel has said 209 lives were lost and 99 others injured in the accident.
Hafizu Inuwa, chairman of the the 25-member investigative panel constituted by Governor Umar Namadi made this known during the presentation of the committee’s report in Dutse, yestersday.
He said the accident claimed 209 lives, 38 injued persons were still on hospital admission and 61 others discharged, while 167 families affected.
“It was further discovered that the inferno resulted in the destruction of properties worth millions of Naira”.
On October 14, a fuel tanker exploded in Majiya town killing hundreds and injuring several others.
Sequel to this, Governor Namadi constituted an investigative panel to unravel the causes of the accident and recommend measures to avert future occurrences.
Inuwa attributed the accident to a number of factors, including damaged speed-breaker and potholes located near the scene.
He said the committee also identified night driving and speeding as contributory factors to the inferno.
“The inferno was possibly ignited by combined factors, including but not limited to friction of metallic containers with hard surface or other containers, as victims were scooping the spilled fuel”.
The committee, he said, recommended regular inspection and enforcement of safety protocols by petroleum transporters and other articulated vehicles.
Others include upgrade of emergency response centres, establishment of a trauma and burns units in health facilities, as well as establishment of a road traffic control agency.
“Where the victims or their relatives are seemingly old and vulnerable, government should provide them with social protection and enroll the most vulnerable victims and their relatives into the Danmodi Care Programme,” he said.
The chairman further lauded the state government for its empathy, moral and psychological support to the affected community as well as the timely response to the disaster.
Responding, the governor commended the efforts of the committee for their timely report and assured them that the government would review the document for quick implementation.
On November 13, another petrol tanker exploded along the Jigawa-Kano border in Dutse LGA of the state.