The Federal Government has pledged to support the families and victims of the tanker explosion that occurred at Dikko junction in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who led a high-powered delegation and stated this on Sunday in Suleja, Niger.
The delegation included the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Nentawa Yilwatda, and the Director-General of NTA, Malam Salihu Dembos.
Others were Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, Director-General of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Mohammed Bulama, amongst others.
At the Palace of Sarkin Zazzau Suleja, Dr Muhammad Awwal-Ibrahim, the Minister of Information consoled the royal father and his cabinet over the incident.
“President Bola Tinubu is really saddened by what has happened, and he is worried to the extent that he has said that a high-powered committee of stakeholders be set up to look at these incidences,” he said.
The committee comprised the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and other critical stakeholders.
They include the National Emergency Management Agency and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association.
Idris emphasised that the government was determined to bring an end to this kind of occurrence.
He cited the loss of over 265 Nigerians in four major incidents from September to the present time.
Idris noted: “Mr President is very saddened by this, and is determined to bring to an end this kind of occurrence.
“And as a result of that, he has directed the National Orientation Agency under my ministry to step up an enlargement campaign and education of people.”
Idris stressed that it was wrong for people to rush to the site of a tanker accident to scoop fuel, as it had led to the loss of hundreds of lives.
The Minister also called on the general public, traditional institutions, and critical stakeholders to enlighten the public on the dangers of scooping fuel from accident scenes.
Similarly, Yilwatda appreciated the Sarkin Zazzau Suleja for his fatherly role in the community and pledged to render necessary support as directed by President Tinubu.
The delegation later visited the General Hospital Suleja, where Idris interacted with some of the victims of the fuel tanker explosion.
The minister directed that those with severe burns be referred to tertiary health institutions immediately.
Responding, the Sarkin Zazzau Suleja appreciated the delegation and pleaded with the residents to be contented with what God has given them and avoid going to scoop fuel in a tanker accident scene.
Meanwhile, at the scene of the incident, an eye witness, Malam Maniru Usman, explained to NAN what led to the fuel tanker explosion.
“When the fuel tanker hit another fuel tanker parked by the roadside, it fell on its side and a lot of people came to scoop the fuel.
“A member of the vigilante came and was beating a young man who was a scooping the fuel, the young warned the vigilante officer not to beat him again or else, he would put on a lighter.
“The Vigilante officer continued beating him and the young man light up a lighter, and fire engulf everywhere.
“The two of them along many others were burnt to dead, including some that were trying to run away from the scene,” Usman said. (NAN)
