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Jigawa Tanker Explosion: Death Toll Hits 181, 80 Hospitalize
The Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, has disclosed that the death toll from the recent tanker explosion in the state has risen to 181, with 80 more individuals currently receiving medical treatment in critical condition.
Governor Namadi provided these details after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday, where he briefed the president on the tragic incident and the ongoing response efforts.
The explosion occurred on October 15 in Majia, a town within the Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, when a petrol tanker, en route from Kano to Nguru in Yobe State, lost control and exploded.
Many of the victims were residents who rushed to the scene to collect fuel from the leaking tanker, unaware of the impending danger.
The fire resulted in immediate casualties, with over 100 people losing their lives on the spot, and many more sustaining severe injuries.
During his address, Namadi shared that a total of 210 families have been affected by the disaster, emphasizing the profound impact it has had on the local community.
He expressed deep concern for the victims and assured that the state government had taken swift action.
“The state government has taken full responsibility for the medical treatment of all those injured, and we are also providing support to the families affected by this terrible incident,” the governor stated.
In addition to providing medical care, the government is working on measures to support the families’ long-term recovery and livelihood.
Namadi also commended President Tinubu for his swift response, noting that the president had immediately sent a delegation to the state following the explosion and had pledged further assistance to the victims.
To investigate the cause of the explosion and prevent similar tragedies in the future, the Jigawa State government has formed a high-level investigative committee, chaired by a retired Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police.
This committee will be tasked with uncovering the factors that led to the disaster and providing recommendations to the government on necessary actions to avoid a recurrence.
Moreover, President Tinubu has directed the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
This move aims to identify the broader issues surrounding tanker accidents in the country and to develop permanent solutions to enhance road safety and prevent future incidents.
Governor Namadi expressed his gratitude to President Tinubu for the support and reiterated the state government’s commitment to ensuring that affected families receive the necessary assistance.
He also highlighted the government’s resolve to address the underlying issues that contributed to the tanker explosion, including poor road conditions, inadequate traffic regulations, and the dangers of fuel scooping, which continues to claim lives in Nigeria.
The tanker explosion in Jigawa has once again brought to the forefront the dangers of unregulated fuel transportation and the urgent need for safety reforms in the sector.
TV anchor Rufai Oseni makes headlines as he speaks on fuel subsidy in Nigeria. He shared that Nigeria can have fuel subsidy without the long queues at filling stations.
“When we were still paying subsidies, there were no long queues. We were subsidising. So you can still have a subsidy regime going on, and there will be no long queues because production was close by. Dangote had it. That’s just it. That argument also falls flat.
“The biggest beneficiaries of subsidy are not Nigerians. They are crony capitalists that have big infrastructure, and they do contracts. They have been the biggest beneficiaries of the subsidy,” he said.
Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu, speaks to those in the electricity sector about the usual blackouts in the state.
He speaks on ways things can change in the state and how electricity can be provided.
“We need to drop corporate egos, abandon long-standing excuses, and confront the harsh realities obstructing progress in the power sector.”
“We, state governments, used to give excuses that everything is centralised, so the Federal Government has unbundled it now. What have we done in a year and a half?” Sanwo-Olu asked.
“We take two steps forward, we go five steps backward,” he said.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared Thursday, August 20, a work-free day for public servants in the state to mark the Isese Festival.
Speaking on the celebration, he said “Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” he said.
He added “When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage,” Aregbe said.
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