A minimum of 105 individuals have been reported deceased due to a petrol tanker explosion in Majiya town, located within the Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

Shiisu Adam, the Public Relations Officer for the state Police Command, verified this number during a phone interview with PUNCH Online on Wednesday.

He mentioned that approximately 55 people suffered injuries of varying severity and were admitted to Ringim General Hospital for treatment.

“As I am talking to you now, the casualty figure is about 105 and the number of injured is 55 as against the 50 earlier confirmed,” he said.

He stated that the event took place around 11:30 PM on Tuesday night in Majia Town, when the tanker driver lost control close to Khadija University.

According to him, the tanker departed from Kano and was heading to Nguru town in Yobe State when the driver lost control of the vehicle, resulting in an explosion.

Reports indicate that following the incident, some individuals arrived at the scene to loot the product, which resulted in numerous fatalities.

ICYMI: Tragic Tanker Explosion in Jigawa Claims 90 Lives

Reports indicate that several injured individuals have been transported to the Federal Medical Centre in Birnin Kudu because of the shortage of available beds at Ringim General Hospital.

Arrangements are underway for a mass burial of the deceased, as most of the bodies were burned beyond recognition.

At least 90 people were reported dead after a petrol tanker exploded in Majiya Town, located in the Taura Local Government Area, on Tuesday.

Jigawa Police Spokesperson, Shi’isu Adam, confirmed this during an interview with reporters on Wednesday.

He further stated that 50 additional individuals had been admitted to the hospital, suffering from various injuries caused by the explosion.

“At about 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Majia Town, Taura local government area of Jigawa, the tanker driver lost control near Khadija University and it exploded.

“The driver left Kano and was heading to Nguru in Yobe. when the accident happened,” Adam said.

He added, “We are worried that in spite of police warning for people to steer clear from scenes of accidents involving fuel tankers, they still engage in such acts.

“People gathered around the accident scene, that is the reason for the mass casualty.”

The spokesperson stated that a mass burial for the victims is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

He mentioned that the injured are currently receiving treatment at Ringim General Hospital.

NAN

No fewer than 90 people were confirmed dead following a petrol tanker explosion in Majiya Town, Taura local government area of the state on Tuesday.

Mr Shi’isu Adam, police spokesperson in Jigawa, confirmed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.

He also said that 50 other people had been hospitalised for various degrees of injuries due to the explosion.

”At about 11:30 pm on Tuesday in Majia Town, Taura local government area of Jigawa, the tanker driver lost control near Khadija University and exploded.

“The driver left Kano and was heading to Nguru in Yobe. when the accident happened,” Adam said.

He said, “We are worried that in spite of police warnings for people to stay clear from scenes of accidents involving fuel tankers, they still engage in such acts.

”People gathered around the accident scene; that is the reason for the mass casualties”.

The spokesperson said that a mass burial of the victims will be held by 9 a.m. on Wednesday

.
He added that the injured are receiving medical attention at the Ringim General hospital

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 flagged off the first phase of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu officially launched the passenger operations of the LRMT Red Line which went on it’s inaugural passenger ride.

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) in a post it shared on its official X account said the inaugural ride marked a significant milestone for the state’s transportation system.

LAMATA said the inaugural ride saw Governor Sanwo-Olu and his cabinet members join the first passengers on the 27 kilometer route between Agbado and Oyingbo.

According to the post, Sanwo-Olu emphasized the importance of preserving the newly inaugurated rail line and urged citizens to maintain its cleanliness.

He also announced that additional train cars were on their way, promising more frequent services in the near future.

“The governor expressed his satisfaction in fulfilling a promise made to the people of Lagos,” LAMATA said.

“Sanwo-Olu also reaffirmed his commitment to further improving the state’s infrastructure and services.”

LAMATA added that the launch of the Red Line attracted a gathering of high-ranking government officials and private sector representatives who attended the inaugural ride.

LAMATA stated that the Red Line is the second rail system to become operational in less than two years in the state.

It stated that there are eight stations at Oyingbo, Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege, Iju and Agbado.

President Bola Tinubu had commissioned the infrastructure for the Red Line earlier this year and that was precisely on February 29.

Notable attendees included the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, Special Adviser, Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa and the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola.

Others are the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Mrs. Margaret Oguntala; the Permanent Secretary for Transportation, Olawale Musa and the Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, Hon. Adewale Temitope, among others.

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to flag off the first phase of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) made the announcement on Monday morning in a post it shared on its official X account.

According to the post, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu will flag off passenger operations of the first phase of the LRMT Red Line.

LAMATA added that the Red Line is the second rail system to become operational in less than two years in the state.

“The Red Line’s first phase is a 27-kilometre railroad from Oyingbo in Lagos to Agbada in Ogun State,” LAMATA explained.

It stated that there are eight stations at Oyingbo, Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege, Iju and Agbado.

The Managing Director of LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo had announced in a statement released last Thursday, October 10 that full passenger operations on the LRMT Red Line would soon commence.

President Bola Tinubu had commissioned the infrastructure for the Red Line earlier this year and that was precisely on February 29.

Sanwo-Olu will lead his executive council members and other dignitaries at the passenger operations launch and ride with commuters on the first passenger trip.

Akinajo stated that train services will commence daily from Agbado at 6 a.m.

Consequently, the schedule for the train service has been adjusted with passenger movement commencing at 6:00 a.m from Agbado.

Previously, trips had started from Oyingbo at 9:00 a.m with the first train reaching Agbado at 10:07 a.m.

The adjusted timetable foreshadows upcoming commercial passenger operations commencing on Tuesday, October 15.

Akinajo explained that the new timetable was based on data gathered through a series of tests, including those for non-fee-paying passengers.

According to her, the new timetable gives priority to trips originating from Agbado, where riders live and work at Ikeja, Oshodi, and Lagos Island.

For passengers whose journeys terminate on Lagos Island, buses will be available at Oyingbo bus terminal for them to complete their journeys.

Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has argued that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should not be scrapped but rather strengthened to improve its effectiveness.

Fintiri made this statement in response to a lawsuit filed by 16 state governors at the Supreme Court, challenging the legality of the laws establishing the anti-graft agency.

Speaking on Channels TV’s ‘Hard Copy’ programme on Friday, Fintiri said, “For me, it is not the right time to abolish the EFCC, whether it was established rightly or wrongly. We need to make it work better. We need to remove the politics that sometimes leads to claims of witch-hunting.”

The governor also criticised the federal government’s practice of taking custody of funds recovered from state-level fund embezzlement, describing it as improper.

“I heard the Attorney General of Oyo State complaining after a court session that, even though funds are shared among the three tiers of government—federal, state, and local—the Federal Government often oversteps by questioning how states and local governments spend their money,” Fintiri said.

“Even when funds are appropriated, the Federal Government takes it into their treasury. I believe this practice should be discontinued.”

When asked about his potential involvement in the suit challenging the EFCC, Fintiri said he would consult with his Attorney General before deciding.

“I will take a look at the suit and review it with my Attorney General to determine whether we will join,” he stated.