Relief supplies are distributed by NEMA to victims of the tanker disaster in Niger

Following the tragic petrol tanker fire at Dikko Junction in Niger State, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has provided food, non-food items, and medical supplies to support injured victims and assist affected families.

The agency announced this in a statement on Tuesday, detailing its response to the disaster.

The tanker explosion occurred on Saturday morning along the Dikko-Maje Road, near Baddegi Station. Reports revealed that the tragedy began when a tanker carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) crashed, spilling its contents during an attempted fuel transfer to another tanker. The spilled PMS ignited after coming into contact with a generator used for the transfer, resulting in a massive explosion.

The incident claimed 98 lives, left 69 individuals with varying degrees of injuries, and destroyed 20 shops.

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 and the Federal Government’s commitment to helping the community recover from the devastating event.