The Nigerian Government has directed the immediate transfer of survivors from the recent tanker explosion in Niger state to specialized tertiary healthcare institutions. This move was announced on Sunday by Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, during a visit to the scene of the tragic explosion in Suleja.
Idris, who led a delegation to assess the situation, was accompanied by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Nentawe Yilwatda, as well as key agency heads. Speaking on the dire circumstances of the victims, Idris emphasized the need for prompt and enhanced medical care. He confirmed that survivors would be evacuated from the Suleja General Hospital and moved to intensive care units at tertiary hospitals.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is deeply saddened by this tragedy,” Idris stated. “He has asked us to visit and assess the situation firsthand.” The minister also revealed that while visiting the wards, one of the critically injured patients had unfortunately passed away, bringing the total number of fatalities from the explosion to eight on that day alone.
Idris expressed his concern over the rising number of lives lost to similar incidents, revealing that the explosion in Suleja is the latest in a series of tragic tanker-related accidents. “In the past five months alone, over 265 people have tragically lost their lives in tanker explosions across the country,” he said, citing incidents in Niger, Jigawa, and other states.
In response to this growing crisis, President Tinubu has ordered the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the root causes of these explosions and develop strategies to prevent future occurrences. The committee will include representatives from the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and various other stakeholders, such as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).
Additionally, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) will intensify public awareness campaigns aimed at educating citizens on the dangers of engaging in the dangerous practice of scooping petroleum products from accident sites, a habit often linked to the escalation of such tragedies.
Idris commended the quick response of the Niger state government and local emergency services, noting that their efforts in managing the immediate aftermath were commendable. However, he reiterated the need for further action to address the broader issue of tanker accidents, calling for a comprehensive approach to safety in the transportation of petroleum products across the country.
