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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Conflicting accounts have emerged between the Kaduna State Government and Silver Luxury Transport Company over the actual cause of the recent explosion of compressed natural gas (CNG) at Mando Motor Park, Kaduna, with both sides offering sharply different narratives, even as investigations begin on the actual cause of the incident.
Interestingly, no life was lost to the incident, which occurred in the wee hours of April 5, 2026.
While state officials were quick to attribute the blast to “a technical fault linked to overfilling of a CNG tank,” the transport company has pushed back, insisting that “the cause of the explosion has not been ascertained.”
Terminal manager of the transport company, Auwal Mahmud, said: “We wish to clarify that, contrary to initial reports, the cause of the incident is still under investigation.”
The management of Silver Luxury Travel and Freight Management added: “It is inaccurate to conclude at this stage that the explosion resulted from an overfilled gas tank.”
The Kaduna State Government, however, maintains a more definitive position. In an official statement, Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, said preliminary findings pointed to human or mechanical error.
He said: “The incident involved a CNG-powered bus operated by Silver Luxury Travel, and preliminary findings indicate that the explosion was caused by overfilling of the gas tank.
“We want to reassure the public that this was not a bomb explosion. There was no casualty and no significant damage beyond the affected vehicles.”
But the company has directly disputed key elements of that claim, raising questions about the accuracy of the initial assessment.
“For the avoidance of doubt, none of our buses involved is CNG-powered,” the company said. “One of the affected vehicles runs on LNG, while the other is diesel-powered. The assertion that a CNG tank was overfilled does not align with the facts available to us.”
Providing further details, the company explained that the explosion occurred between two parked buses, making it difficult to immediately pinpoint the source.
“The impact was observed between the two vehicles, affecting a fuel tank on one and a gas canister on the other,” the statement added. “Each bus has multiple tanks, but only those on the impacted side were affected. This makes it premature to assign a definitive cause.”
While stopping short of drawing conclusions, the company did not entirely rule out foul play. It noted: “We cannot at this point discount any possibility, including sabotage. However, we have reported the incident to the appropriate authorities and are fully cooperating with ongoing investigations.”
Amid the disagreement, Governor Uba Sani has ordered what officials describe as a “sweeping multi-agency investigation” to unravel both the immediate and underlying causes of the explosion.
Maiyaki said: “We are committed to getting to the root of this incident. Relevant security agencies, technical regulators, and safety authorities have been directed to carry out a comprehensive probe. Our goal is not just to determine what happened but to strengthen safety standards across the board.
“We advise the public to disregard unverified claims and go about their normal activities,” he said. “There is no security threat arising from this incident.”
Also, in a statement, the Kaduna State Police Command disputed earlier reports suggesting multiple explosions or a possible bomb blast.
According to the police, preliminary findings indicated that the incident involved a single gas-powered luxury bus belonging to Silver Luxury Travel, which experienced what they described as a “minor explosion” due to overfilling of its gas tank.
A statement by the police public relations officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, explained: “On 5th April, 2026, at about 0300 hours, a loud sound was reported… detectives were promptly dispatched to the scene. Preliminary findings revealed that the incident involved an LNG-propelled luxury bus, which exploded due to overfilling of its gas tank.”
The police added that the “affected vehicle has been evacuated, the area secured and normal activities have resumed”. They also stated that no casualties or additional property damage were recorded.
The commissioner of police in the state has ordered an investigation, with support from the bomb disposal unit of the Nigeria Police Force, to determine the exact cause of the incident and prevent a recurrence.
Authorities urged the public and media to verify information before dissemination, warning that unverified reports could trigger panic.
Even as the war of words continues, activities at the motor park tell a different story, one of resilience and routine, rather than fear.
Barely hours after the explosion, passengers flooded the terminal, forming long queues and boarding buses operated by the same company at the centre of the controversy.
“I heard different versions of what happened, but, honestly, that doesn’t stop my journey,” said Sadiq Lawal, a trader travelling to Lagos “What matters to me is that there was no loss of life and the place is safe now.”
Maryam Bako, heading to Ibadan, said the normalcy at the park outweighed the conflicting reports: “People are arguing about what caused it, but here we are, travelling. The environment is calm, security is present, and everything is moving. That is enough reassurance for me.”
For Okeke Okafor, a businessman, the disagreement between authorities and the company only reinforces the need to await final findings.
“Everybody is saying something different, so I believe we should wait for the investigation,” he said. “But as for travelling today, there is no problem. Life must go on.”
Bamidele Bello, a student, struck a similar tone. He said: “Whether it was CNG or LNG, the important thing is that the issue is being looked into. I feel safe enough to travel, and that’s why I’m here.”
At the park, the hum of engines, the chatter of passengers and the steady departure of buses painted a picture of cautious confidence, even as the debate over the true cause of the explosion lingers.
For now, while authorities and the transport company continue their back-and-forth, commuters appear to have made their own decision to move on.
The Kaduna CNG explosion happened barely a month after President Bola Tinubu directed the immediate deployment of 100,000 CNG conversion kits to cushion the impact of rising petrol and diesel costs on Nigerians.
The directive was informed by the ongoing war in the Middle East and its impact on global petroleum prices, which have increased transportation costs for Nigerians.
The initiative included plans to deploy vehicles and tricycles equipped with bi-fuel CNG and electric mobility capabilities.
The President also directed the Pi-CNG to fast-track infrastructure development for gas refilling stations and electric vehicle charging points across the country, with particular focus on the Northern corridor.
According to government, the Northern corridor, stretching from Lokoja through Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, and all the way to Maiduguri, will be equipped with multiple refuelling units to ensure seamless access to CNG for motorists.
The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas was launched by Tinubu in 2023 as part of efforts to reduce dependence on petrol and diesel and lower transportation costs following the removal of fuel subsidy.
The initiative aims to convert one million vehicles to CNG and establish CNG refilling infrastructure across the country to make the alternative fuel widely accessible to Nigerians.
CNG is significantly cheaper than petrol, with a litre equivalent costing approximately 60-70 per cent less than premium motor spirit.
