The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has condoled with the families of the victims of the fuel tanker fire that occurred at the Dikko Junction in Niger State on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Mohammed urged tanker operators to always adhere strictly to safety standards and observe due protocols in transloading fuel products.
In his reaction to the fuel tanker incident, the Corps Marshal described the human losses from the inferno as disheartening and disastrous, warning that such incidents must never be allowed to happen again.
He expressed concern that despite sustained enlightenment programs carried out by the Corps with tanker drivers on the need to be safety-conscious while transporting petroleum products due to their inflammable nature, and urging the general public to stay away from scenes of tanker crashes, many people still fell victim to Saturday’s unfortunate tanker incident.
While recalling that 73 burnt bodies have so far been recovered by the rescue teams for final burial as arranged by the Niger State Government, the Corps Marshal revealed that FRSC teams have been directed to sustain joint operations with other relevant stakeholders to ensure effective management of traffic at the scene to prevent further incidents.
He disclosed that the Accident Investigation Unit of the Corps will work in collaboration with other agencies to unravel the causes and propose solutions to address future occurrences.
“Meanwhile, those who sustained various degrees of injury have been taken to different hospitals, including Suleja General Hospital, for further medical attention, and normalcy has returned to the area with free movement of traffic,” the Corps Marshal stated.
Mohammed stressed the importance of inter-agency collaboration and robust engagement with members of the public, including critical stakeholders, to ensure that the nation does not witness such levels of human loss again, especially when the incident could have been prevented by strict adherence to due diligence.
“The nation has yet to recover from a similar incident that occurred in Jigawa last year, and having to witness another incident of this magnitude at the beginning of the new year is painful and regrettable,” he further stated.
The Corps Marshal assured Nigerians that the FRSC will continue to work with relevant stakeholders and the public to find lasting solutions to all road-based emergencies and called for the involvement of all Nigerians in the joint efforts to ensure the safety and security of lives and property for road travellers.
While praying for the repose of the souls of all those who lost their lives in the inferno, the Corps Marshal appealed for support for the families of the survivors in various hospitals to ensure their quick recovery.
He further commiserated with the people of Niger State and commended the prompt intervention of the Executive Governor of Niger State, who was physically present at the scene.
