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Tragic Jigawa Tanker Explosion Claims 90 Lives With 50 Injured
A tragic petrol tanker explosion in Majiya Town, Taura local government area of Jigawa State claimed the lives of at least 90 people on Tuesday night.
The devastating accident occurred near Khadija University when the driver of the tanker lost control around 11:30 p.m.
The vehicle, which had departed from Kano and was en route to Nguru in Yobe State, exploded shortly after the crash, engulfing the area in flames.
According to the police spokesperson in Jigawa, Mr. Shi’isu Adam, 50 individuals who sustained various injuries are currently receiving treatment at Ringim General Hospital.
Many of them are in critical condition, with some facing life-threatening burns.
Mr. Adam revealed that the high number of casualties was largely due to the crowd that gathered around the site of the crash despite repeated warnings from authorities to avoid accident scenes involving fuel tankers.
He expressed concern over this persistent disregard for safety precautions, stating that it was the primary reason for the massive loss of life in this incident.
“We’ve consistently advised the public to stay away from such sites, but unfortunately, many people rushed to the scene, leading to these tragic deaths,” Mr. Adam said.
The scale of the disaster has left the community in shock. Families who lost loved ones are in deep mourning, while others anxiously await news about their hospitalized relatives.
In response to the large number of victims, local officials have scheduled a mass burial for Wednesday morning at 9 a.m., with families and community leaders expected to attend.
The tanker explosion has raised concerns about the frequency of such accidents in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas where emergency response is slower and where residents often approach accident sites unaware of the dangers.
Safety experts have called for more public awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement of safety protocols to prevent future tragedies.
This heartbreaking event highlights not only the risks associated with fuel transportation but also the importance of educating the public on how to react in emergency situations.
The people of Jigawa are now left to pick up the pieces from this horrific event while hoping for the recovery of those still fighting for their lives in the hospital.
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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