- NEMA distributed food, non-food items, and medical supplies following the petrol tanker explosion at Dikko Junction, Niger State
- The tanker fire disaster claimed 98 lives, injured 69, and destroyed 20 shops
- NEMA Director General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, led the distribution of relief materials, following a rapid assessment of the situation
In response to the devastating petrol tanker fire disaster at Dikko Junction, Niger State, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has swiftly distributed food, non-food items, and medical supplies to support the victims and affected families.
The agency announced the relief efforts in a statement issued on Tuesday, January 21.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday morning along the Dikko-Maje Road, opposite Baddegi Station.
Reports indicate that the explosion was triggered when a crashed tanker, loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), spilled its contents during an attempt to transfer the fuel to another tanker.
The spilled fuel then came into contact with a generator used to power the transfer, igniting the explosion.
The disaster claimed the lives of 98 individuals, injured 69 others, and destroyed 20 shops in the vicinity.
NEMA’s Director General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, visited the affected community and flagged off the distribution of relief materials. She explained that the intervention was in response to President Bola Tinubu’s directive and the Federal Government’s commitment to helping the community recover from the devastating event.
“We are here to provide immediate assistance with food, non-food items, and medicaments to the affected families, based on the report of the initial rapid assessment carried out by NEMA officials, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), and other first responders,” Mrs Umar stated.
While offering her condolences, Mrs Umar assured that NEMA would continue to coordinate efforts to aid the community’s recovery. She also highlighted the importance of disaster preparedness and proactive measures to protect lives and property.
The NEMA DG praised the swift response of first responders, including the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, firefighters, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, medical teams, security operatives, and local community members, whose timely actions helped save lives and reduce the severity of the disaster.
The Deputy Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Afiniki Daudu, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for its prompt response, while the Chairman of Gurara Local Government Area, Alhaji Abdulhalim Abubakar, and community leaders also acknowledged the support.
105 dead, 55 injured in Jigawa petrol tanker explosion; Multiple injuries reported in Ibafo
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that a petrol tanker explosion resulted in the death of 105 individuals and left 55 injured in Jigawa.
Relatedly, residents described chaotic scenes as a petrol tanker overturned, causing a fire that injured several people and destroyed properties on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
