The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) in Niger State has called for immediate action by the federal government to address the causes of the tragic explosion of a fuel tanker last weekend in the state.
This incident caused the death of 98 people and another 69 were injured. Furthermore, about 20 trading stalls, valued at several million naira, were completely destroyed in the ensuing fire.
The State CNG Coordinator, Comrade Abdullahi Erena, stated this in a press release personally signed and made available to journalists on Monday in Minna, expressing deep sadness and shock over the devastating tanker explosion that occurred along Dikko Junction.
However, he compared the tragedy to “a calamity fueled by poverty and inflation,” noting that witness accounts indicated that the victims were attempting to recover fuel from the unfortunate downed tanker when the explosion occurred.
“This heartbreaking scene is a clear reflection of the desperation and poverty that have become all too familiar in our society.
“The fact that people felt forced to risk their lives for the opportunity to collect fuel is a scathing indictment of our nation's inability to care for its citizens,” he said.
He further attributed the tragedy to the rising cost of fuel, exacerbated by inflation and poverty, which has created an environment in which people are forced to make impossible decisions.
According to him, this tragedy was an indication that our economic policies have failed to address the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.
Erena praised the quick response of the Niger government under the leadership of Umar Bago to the tragedy, highlighting that the government's efforts to provide emergency services and support to the victims were commendable.
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He further stated that the group demanded immediate action from the federal government to address the root causes of the tragedy.
Erena advocated for comprehensive action by the Federal Government to address poverty, investment in sustainable energy solutions, better road infrastructure and better emergency response systems.
“We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.
“Let this tragedy serve as a wake-up call for our leaders to take responsibility for the well-being of our citizens,” he declared.
He recalled that the tanker explosion occurred on Saturday morning at around 9am on Dikko-Maje Road, opposite Baddegi Filling Station in Gurara Local Government Area of the state.
The tragic incident occurred when a tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) crashed and an attempt was made to transfer its contents to another tanker, following which it caught fire and the entire contents were engulfed in a ball of flames.
In the process, the PMS was said to have come into contact with a generator set that was used to power the transfer process, causing an explosion that claimed the lives of many people, while several others suffered varying degrees of injuries and They destroyed properties worth millions of naira. “