PDP mourns Niger tanker explosion victims, seeks inquest

The Peoples Democratic Party has expressed sorrow over the petrol tanker explosion that claimed the lives of more than 98 Nigerians and left many others injured.

Recall that no fewer than 98 people lost their lives in the explosion, while several others were injured to varying extents as they tried to scoop fuel from a petrol tanker that had spilled its contents on the Dikko-Maje Minna Road at Dikko Junction in Niger State on Saturday.

In a statement on Monday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, urged the Federal Government to move beyond mere rhetoric and implement effective measures to ensure safer roads, preventing the recurrence of such tragic incidents in the country.

He stated, “This recent disaster adds to the ugly wave of tragic occurrences that have befallen our dear nation due to the deplorable state of infrastructure and disorienting economic hardship occasioned by the gross neglect of the wellbeing of the citizens since the inception of the APC in government.

“It is indeed disheartening that Nigerians especially our youths and breadwinners of homes continue to die on the highways and bear ugly scars as victims of the unspeakable misgovernance of the APC.

“Our party calls on the Federal Government not to stop only at investigating the remote and immediate causes of this and similar incidents in recent time but, most importantly take immediate steps to address the situation that led to the sad occurrences.

“The Federal Government should end its resort to lip service and take steps to put adequate measures to ensure safer roads so as to prevent the re-occurrence of such tragic incidents in the country.”

The PDP also praised the bravery and efforts of the police, firefighters, the Federal Road Safety Corps, other agencies, and patriotic Nigerians who assisted in controlling the fire and rescuing some of the victims.

It continued “The PDP commiserates with the families of the victims, the Government and people of Niger State and prays to God to grant speedy recovery to the injured and fortitude to the families of the deceased at this trying time.”

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