NEMA Distributes Relief Materials to Victims of Niger Tanker Explosion

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed food, non-food items, and medical supplies to victims of the petrol tanker explosion that occurred at Dikko Junction in Niger State. The incident, which happened on Saturday morning, claimed 98 lives, injured 69 others, and destroyed 20 shops.
NEMA, in a statement on Tuesday, revealed that the relief distribution was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to provide immediate support to the affected community.
The explosion was triggered during an attempt to transfer Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from a crashed tanker to another vehicle. The fuel spill reportedly came into contact with a generator powering the transfer, resulting in a catastrophic fire.
NEMA’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, visited the affected community to oversee the distribution of relief materials. She emphasized that the intervention aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to support disaster-hit communities.
“Based on the report of the initial rapid assessment carried out by officials of NEMA, NSEMA, and other first responders, we are here to provide immediate assistance with food, non-food items, and medicaments to the affected families,” she said.
Mrs. Umar expressed condolences to the victims and assured them of coordinated efforts to aid their recovery. She also highlighted the importance of disaster preparedness and proactive measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The NEMA Director General praised the swift action of first responders, including the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, firefighters, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, medical personnel, and community members. Their prompt actions were instrumental in saving lives and mitigating further damage.
Deputy Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Afiniki Daudu, attended the event and commended the Federal Government for its quick response through NEMA. Other officials present included the Chairman of Gurara Local Government Area, Alhaji Abdulhalim Abubakar; the Director General of Niger State SEMA, Abdullahi Arah; and local community leaders.
The tragedy has sparked renewed calls for stricter safety measures during fuel transportation and handling to prevent future occurrences.