We’ve set up committee to probe tanker explosions on highways, says minister

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, says President Bola Tinubu has constituted a committee to probe the causes of frequent tanker explosions on highways.

The minister spoke on Sunday during a visit to the palace of Awwal Ibrahim, the Emir of Suleja, where he extended condolences to the victims of Saturday’s tanker explosion at Dikko junction, Gurara LGA, Niger state.

He said the committee is also expected to recommend effective solutions to prevent future incidents.

He said committee members include representatives from the ministry of information and national orientation, ministry humanitarian affairs, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), tanker drivers’ associations, and other stakeholders.

Idris added that his ministry would launch awareness campaigns on the safe movement of petrol tankers, road safety practices, and the dangers of scooping leaked petroleum products.

The explosion occurred on Saturday when a tanker conveying petrol crashed and another tanker was brought to transfer the content.

Reports suggest that residents were scooping petrol when the explosion occurred.

Abdullahi Baba-Arah, director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has confirmed the death of 86 persons from the incident.

Earlier in January, at least two people reportedly died in a petrol tanker explosion in Agbor town in Ika LGA of Delta state.

In October 2024, a fuel tanker explosion in Jigawa state killed 209 people, with scores injured.