The Jigawa police command says 173 people have lost their lives, and 70 hospitalised in the recent petrol tanker explosion that occured along the Kano-Hadejia expressway on Tuesday.
Lawan Shiisu, the police spokesperson in Jigawa, confirmed to TheCable on Sunday that the death toll from the petrol tanker explosion on Tuesday had risen by over 80 from the initially reported 90 to 173.
Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Group, and Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno state, visited the site of the incident on Friday.
They were joined by Umar Ganduje, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources, to offer condolences.
Lokpobiri described the incident as unprecedented, saying no amount of petrol taken can justify the tragic loss of lives. He urged Nigerians to immediately report such accidents to relevant authorities.
“We’ve been hearing of this type of development in different parts of the country, but none has been on this scale. So when we heard of what happened, we had to come,” the minister said.
“Myself and the head of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), who oversees the monitoring of both the mainstream and downstream sectors, along with the leadership of NMDPRA, had to come and see things for ourselves.
“We’ve been to the government house, condoled with the government and the people of the state, and felt it was necessary to visit the site as well.
“We also witnessed the grief, the mass grave, where over a hundred people are buried, and we want to take this opportunity to condole with the families of those who have lost their lives.
“We also appeal to Nigerians that if they see any fuel tanker like this, they should not go near. The amount of petrol taken cannot justify risking one’s life.
“I want to use this opportunity to urge Nigerians to report such incidents to the nearest police station, road safety officers, NMDPRA, or any relevant authority, so they can secure the area and save lives.
“Government is also taking steps to ensure that incidents like this do not happen. We’re implementing certain policies, ensuring that trucks carrying products are certified by NMDPRA, road safety, and other agencies working with us.
“Going forward, only roadworthy and certified vehicles will be allowed to transport products to different parts of the country.”
Dangote and Ganduje extended their deepest condolences to the families affected and prayed for the quick recovery of the injured.
Ganduje, who visited survivors at Rashida Shekoni Teaching Hospital in Dutse, praised the state government for its swift response and commended victims and their families for their resilience.
“I am deeply moved by the resilience shown by the victims and their families,” Ganduje said.
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“I pray for the departed souls and for the quick recovery of those injured. We must take all necessary steps to prevent such a disaster from occurring again.”
Umar Namadi, governor of Jigawa, expressed gratitude to the visiting officials and other well-wishers from across the country.
He said discussions with the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) are underway to improve safety measures.
“Their roadmap includes the redesigning of fuel tanks and other preventive measures,” Namadi said.
He urged the minister to involve NARTO in drafting new and effective safety strategies for transporting flammable products.
Two school girls confirmed dead from Ebonyi gas explosion
Two out of the 10 school girls who suffered severe burns from the Ebonyi gas explosion have died.
Robinson Onoh, a professor and chief medical director of Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday.
Five of the victims were on life support after the explosion occurred inside the Good Shepherd Catering School building, where the girls, aged 12 to 19, were doing their catering studies.
One of the students was said to have answered a phone call from a cell phone while cooking inside the kitchen before a gas cylinder exploded.
The incident occurred in Orokeonuoha, Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, South-east Nigeria.
All the victims were being treated at the federal teaching hospital.
Onoh said that medical personnel had been on the ground to ensure no death was recorded again.
“Both nurses, plastic surgeons, anesthetist team, internal medicine and respiratory team and management are on the ground to do the needful.
“We lost two already; one on arrival, and yesterday, 19 October, we lost another, making it two deaths. Our team is on the ground to make sure we do not lose another person,” he said.
Mr Onoh revealed that inhalation and saver dressing foam were the major challenges.
“Inhalation is a result of accumulation of smoke from burns; it is part of the burns affecting their breathing; we have been able to separate them.
“The saver dressing foam reduces the frequency of dressing and makes the healing process faster.
“The inhalation is a big challenge; burns can be managed but once there is an inhalational component, it becomes a problem.
“Saver dressing foam is quite expensive; it is not available here; we had to get this from Enugu State.
“We hope to get more; we do not want to use a particular one which could cause infection, pains and affect healing.
“We need help because it is demanding on the hospital, using internal infusion and drugs.”
