Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has announced a donation of ₦1 million to each family of the deceased victims and ₦500,000 to every injured survivor of the recent tanker explosion in Essa, Katcha Local Government Area.
The governor made the announcement during a condolence visit to the community on Thursday, where he met with local leaders and residents while assessing the extent of the tragedy.
According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, the gesture followed Tuesday’s fatal incident along the Bida–Badegi–Agaie Road, where residents were reportedly scooping petrol from a fallen tanker before it caught fire.
The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Authority (NSEMA), Abdullahi Arah, confirmed that the death toll had risen to 42, with 52 others injured. He attributed the incident to the poor condition of the road and intense heat in the area, which likely triggered the fire.
Expressing sadness over the loss of lives, Governor Bago prayed for the speedy recovery of those receiving treatment in hospitals in Bida and Abuja.
He also condemned the act of fuel scooping, describing it as dangerous and criminal.
“It is a terrible thing that a truck will fall and people of the community will carry containers to scoop fuel. It is theft and must be addressed as such, and we can’t encourage it,” Bago said.
While acknowledging that the deplorable state of the road contributed to the tragedy, he urged residents to act responsibly during emergencies and assist in rescue efforts instead of putting their lives at risk.
The governor further disclosed that business magnate Aliko Dangote had pledged to rehabilitate the Mokwa–Lambata Road, with work expected to commence soon.
In addition, he announced plans to build a new primary healthcare centre in Essa Community to cater to the residents’ medical needs.