The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has provided relief materials, including food, non-food items, and medical supplies, to the injured victims and families affected by the devastating petrol tanker explosion at Dikko Junction, Niger State.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the agency confirmed the distribution of aid following the tragic incident that occurred on Saturday morning along the Dikko-Maje Road, near Baddegi Station.
The explosion reportedly happened during an attempt to transfer Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from a crashed tanker, which had spilt its contents, to another vehicle.
The spilt PMS came into contact with a generator used to power the transfer, causing the explosion.
The incident claimed 98 lives, left 69 people with varying degrees of injuries, and destroyed 20 shops.
NEMA’s Director General, Zubaida Umar, visited the community and flagged off the distribution of relief materials.
During her visit, she stated that the intervention was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive and the Federal Government’s commitment to assisting the community in recovering from the disaster.
Present at the event was the Deputy Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Afiniki Daudu, who appreciated the Federal Government’s prompt response in delivering relief items through NEMA. Also in attendance were the Chairman of Gurara Local Government Area, Alhaji Abdulhalim Abubakar; the Director General of Niger State SEMA, Abdullahi Arah; and community leaders.
She said, “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 commended the swift response of first responders, including NEMA, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, firefighters, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, medical personnel, security operatives, community members, and other stakeholders who acted promptly to save lives and mitigate further damage.
While sympathising with the community, Umar assured that NEMA would coordinate comprehensive efforts to aid their recovery.
She also stressed the need for communities to prioritise disaster preparedness and proactive measures to safeguard lives and property.