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The Federal Government has directed the immediate transfer of victims of the recent tanker explosion at Dikko Junction in Suleja, Niger State, to tertiary health facilities for advanced medical care.
The directive was announced by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during a visit to Suleja on Sunday.
Speaking during the visit, Idris conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s profound sorrow over the tragic incident.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, the minister noted that the President had instructed the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Emergency Management Agency, and other relevant agencies to ensure that critically injured victims receive urgent care at specialist hospitals.
The minister, accompanied by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, described the scene of the explosion and the condition of the victims as heart-breaking.
He disclosed that one more victim had died during the delegation’s visit, raising the death toll from the explosion to eight.
Idris said: “President Bola Tinubu is deeply saddened by what has happened. He asked us to come here to assess the situation.
“We have just visited the wards and have seen those who are critically injured. Sadly, during our visit, one of the victims passed away, bringing the total number of deaths to eight. What we are witnessing is a dire need for emergency medical attention, which the Federal Government is prioritising.
“The Minister of Health, NEMA, and all relevant agencies will ensure the immediate evacuation of victims to the Intensive Care Unit of the nearest tertiary institution.”
Idris commended the Niger State Government for its prompt response to the disaster, particularly in providing immediate medical assistance.
However, he expressed concern about the alarming frequency of similar incidents, which have claimed 265 lives in the past five months.
He highlighted recent tragedies, including a tanker explosion in Agaie, Niger State, in September 2024, which claimed 48 lives; another in Jigawa State in October, with 144 fatalities; and the most recent Suleja explosion, which has so far resulted in nearly 80 deaths.
To address these recurring disasters, President Tinubu has established a high-level committee to investigate the root causes of tanker explosions and propose preventive measures.
“The government is deeply concerned and has set up a committee comprising the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and key stakeholders such as NEMA, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the Federal Road Safety Commission, NARTO, NUPENG, and IPMAN to identify both the immediate and remote causes of these incidents and recommend solutions to prevent a recurrence,” Idris stated.
The minister condemned the reckless practice of individuals attempting to scoop fuel from accident sites, describing it as dangerous and unacceptable.
He urged the National Orientation Agency to intensify public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on the risks of such actions.
During the visit, the delegation met with the Emir of Suleja, Alhaji Auwal Ibrahim, visited victims receiving treatment at Suleja General Hospital, and inspected the site of the explosion.
Other members of the delegation included the directors-general of the Nigerian Television Authority, Voice of Nigeria, and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.
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