Niger tanker explosion: Minister sympathises with victims as FRSC stresses safety

By Okwe Obi, Abuja

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, has expressed sympathy for the victims of the Niger State tanker explosion.

Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged drivers to adhere strictly to safety regulations to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

In a statement released yesterday by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Iliya Rhoda Ishaku, the Minister described the tragic incident, which claimed over 80 lives and left many injured, as “pathetic and unfortunate.”

He said: “I am deeply saddened by the frequent occurrence of tanker explosions in the country, which lead to the loss of lives, injuries, and damage to property. I share in the pain of the community who lost their beloved ones in this devastating incident.”

The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, also expressed concern over the tragedy in a statement issued by the Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide. He noted that despite the Corps’ sustained enlightenment programmes for tanker drivers on safety awareness, such incidents persist.

He revealed that FRSC teams have been directed to maintain joint operations with other relevant stakeholders to ensure effective traffic management at the accident scene and prevent further incidents.

According to Mohammed, the accident investigation unit of the Corps will collaborate with other agencies to uncover the causes of the explosion and recommend solutions to prevent future occurrences.

“Meanwhile, those who sustained various degrees of injuries have been taken to hospitals, including Suleja General Hospital, for further medical attention. Normalcy has been restored in the area, and traffic flow has resumed,” he stated.

The FRSC Corps Marshal stressed the importance of inter-agency collaboration and robust engagement with the public and critical stakeholders to ensure that incidents of this magnitude do not occur again. He noted that such tragedies could be prevented by adhering to proper safety protocols and due diligence.

“The nation has not yet fully recovered from a similar incident that occurred in Jigawa last year. Witnessing another tragedy of this magnitude at the beginning of the new year is both painful and regrettable,” Mohammed concluded.