The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed food, non-food items, and medical supplies to support injured victims and provide relief to families affected by the tragic petrol tanker fire at Dikko Junction in Niger State.
The agency revealed this in a statement on Tuesday.
The explosion occurred on Saturday morning along the Dikko-Maje Road, opposite Baddegi Station. Reports indicate that the disaster was triggered when a crashed tanker carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) spilled its contents during an attempt to transfer the fuel to another tanker. The spilled fuel came into contact with a generator powering the transfer, resulting in a catastrophic explosion.
The incident claimed 98 lives, left 69 others with varying degrees of injuries, and destroyed 20 shops.
NEMA’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, visited the community to oversee the distribution of relief materials. She stated that the intervention aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive and demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to helping the community recover from the tragedy.
During her visit, Mrs. Umar sympathised with the victims and assured them of NEMA’s dedication to coordinating comprehensive recovery efforts. She also emphasised the importance of disaster preparedness and proactive measures to safeguard lives and property.
“We commend the swift response of all first responders, including NEMA, Niger State Emergency Management Agency, firefighters, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, medical personnel, security operatives, community members, and other stakeholders who acted promptly to save lives and mitigate further damage,” she said.
The event was attended by key officials, including the Deputy Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Afiniki Daudu, who praised the Federal Government for its prompt intervention. Also present were the Chairman of Gurara Local Government Area, Alhaji Abdulhalim Abubakar; the Director General of Niger State SEMA, Abdullahi Arah; and several community leaders.
