A petrol tanker explosion along the Bida-Agaie-Lapai road in Niger State has claimed the lives of 48 people, according to Alhaji Abdullah Baba-Arah, Director-General of the Niger Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The incident, which took place around 12:30 am on Sunday, occurred two kilometers from Dendo community in Agaie Local Government Area.
Baba-Arah reported that a petrol tanker carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) collided with a trailer truck transporting passengers and cattle from Wudil, Kano State, heading to Lagos. The crash involved two other vehicles, a crane truck and a pickup van. The agency’s Rapid Response Team (RRT) and Local Emergency Management Committees (LGEMCs) are still at the scene, conducting search and rescue operations as bodies remain trapped in the wreckage.
Niger State’s Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander, Kumar Tsukwam, confirmed that the crash was caused by excessive speed and loss of control. Out of the 55 people involved, 37 were confirmed dead, with 18 others injured. The tanker, traveling from Lagos to Kano, lost control and caught fire, engulfing another trailer carrying humans and cows, along with two other vehicles.
Abubakar Agaie, a local resident, confirmed that 45 victims were buried in Man-Woro village, while other sources said the tanker fell, ignited, and trapped the other vehicles. Witnesses reported that four vehicles in total were burned in the disaster, with the number of cattle involved still unknown.
In response, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago expressed his condolences and urged road users to follow traffic regulations to prevent further tragedies. He prayed for the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Meanwhile, the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) recently launched an initiative to address the causes of petroleum tanker crashes. Factors identified include poor road conditions, inexperienced drivers, overloading, and inadequate truck maintenance, which contributed to several tanker-related accidents in 2024, according to MEMAN’s Executive Secretary, Clement Isong.