By: Bayero Ade
A tanker transporting 40,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) overturned and erupted in flames on Monday evening along the Agaie-Lapai road near Bida, Niger State.
According to Vanguard, the incident, which occurred around 6:30 pm, was reportedly caused by a burst front tire, leading the driver to lose control. The vehicle overturned into a drainage and caught fire. While no lives were lost, the driver and his conductor sustained injuries and were rushed to Lapai General Hospital for medical attention.
An eyewitness described the location as remote and commended the swift closure of the road to avert further danger.
The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah, confirmed the incident via the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Ibrahim Hussaini. He noted that officials were dispatched to the site to evaluate the situation.
Similarly, the Niger State Police Command confirmed the accident through its spokesperson, Superintendent Wasiu Abiodun. According to Abiodun, the tanker, with registration number DKA 03 A, was en route from Lagos to Kaduna when the crash occurred near Kusogbogi, a few kilometers from Agaie.
Abiodun stated, “The driver, Shamsudeen Dayabu, and his motor boy sustained injuries but were promptly taken to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, no fatalities were recorded, and the road has been reopened to traffic.”
This incident follows a recent string of tanker explosions in the state. Over a week ago, a similar accident in Dikko, Gurara Local Government Area, claimed over 100 lives, injured 60 people, and destroyed more than 20 structures. On Sunday, another explosion in Sabon-Pegi, Mashegu Local Government Area, resulted in six injuries, 14 houses completely destroyed, and 27 others partially affected.
Authorities have continued to urge drivers, especially those transporting highly flammable materials, to exercise greater caution to prevent such tragedies.
Leave a Reply