Reps urge FG to provide relief, medical aid to victims of Niger tanker explosion

By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to urgently mobilise alleviation materials and aesculapian supplies to assistance victims of Tuesday’s tanker detonation successful Niger State, which claimed much than 30 lives and near dozens injured.

The telephone followed the adoption of a question of urgent nationalist value moved connected Tuesday by Hon. Saidu Abdullahi, subordinate representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency of Niger State.

Niger State has been deed by recurring tanker disasters successful caller times. Earlier, connected January 18, 2025, a petrol tanker conveying astir 60,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit overturned astatine Dikko Junction adjacent Suleja, sidesplitting implicit 100 radical who had gathered to scoop fuel.

Tuesday’s tragedy, which occurred astatine Essa colony successful Katcha Local Government Area, mirrored the earlier catastrophe arsenic residents reportedly gathered to scoop substance from a fallen tanker earlier it exploded. The blast killed astir 35 persons, injured implicit 40 others, and destroyed spot worthy millions of naira.

Hon. Abdullahi, successful an emotion-laden presentation, described the incidental arsenic yet different avoidable calamity on a large national road linking Niger State with the Federal Capital Territory and different parts of the country.

He said the way serves arsenic “a captious corridor for the proscription of petroleum products, cultivation commodities, and different goods,” lamenting that the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Dikko Road has remained successful a deplorable authorities for decades contempt repeated authorities contracts for its rehabilitation.

The lawmaker noted that though the task was erstwhile captured nether the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme—a Public-Private Partnership exemplary meant to accelerate captious roadworthy delivery—its aboriginal present hangs successful the equilibrium pursuing the Federal Government’s caller cancellation of NNPC’s involution connected roads.

He warned that the continued neglect of the corridor has turned it into a decease trap for motorists and tanker drivers, resulting successful predominant gridlocks, nonaccomplishment of goods, and untold hardship for commuters.

“The Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Dikko corridor is not lone important to Niger State but besides to Nigeria’s economical network, connecting cultivation accumulation zones to markets and the FCT. It truthful demands contiguous national attraction and sustainable interventions,” Abdullahi said.

The question was adopted aft it was enactment to a dependable ballot by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided implicit Tuesday’s plenary.

Following its adoption, the House urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to supply alleviation materials and aesculapian enactment to victims and their families.

It besides called connected the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to instantly mobilise contractors for afloat rehabilitation, expansion, and completion of the highway.

In addition, the House directed the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and different applicable agencies to intensify enforcement of information standards for tanker and heavy-duty conveyance operations, ensuring strict compliance with roadworthiness and exigency effect protocols.

Furthermore, the House mandated its Committees connected Works, FERMA, FRSC, and Finance to behaviour a broad appraisal of the roadworthy and reappraisal the presumption of its erstwhile contractual arrangements, and study backmost wrong 2 weeks for further legislative action.

The station Reps impulse FG to supply relief, aesculapian assistance to victims of Niger tanker explosion appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.