A government panel investigating the October 14 tanker explosion in Majiya town, Jigawa State, has confirmed that 209 lives were lost, with an additional 99 people injured in the tragedy.
The panel, chaired by Hafizu Inuwa, presented its findings to Governor Umar Namadi on Wednesday in Dutse, outlining the scale of the disaster and recommending measures to prevent future occurrences.
According to the report, 38 of the injured are still receiving medical treatment, while 61 others have been discharged. The explosion also impacted 167 families, with properties worth millions of Naira destroyed in the inferno.
“The fire caused extensive destruction, with properties valued at millions of Naira completely lost,” Inuwa stated during the presentation.
The panel identified multiple causes for the explosion, including damaged speed breakers, potholes, excessive speeding, and night driving.
Inuwa explained that the fire likely started from friction between metallic containers and hard surfaces as victims attempted to scoop spilt fuel.
To address these issues, the committee recommended stricter safety regulations for petroleum transporters and articulated vehicles, enhanced road inspections, and the establishment of a dedicated road traffic control agency.
“There is an urgent need for improved safety protocols, regular road maintenance, and better enforcement of speed limits to prevent similar disasters,” Inuwa noted.
Additional recommendations included creating trauma and burns units in health facilities, upgrading emergency response systems, and enrolling the most vulnerable victims into social protection schemes, such as the Danmodi Care Programme.
Governor Namadi praised the committee for its thorough investigation and vowed to implement its recommendations to safeguard the people of Jigawa State.
“This tragedy has deeply affected us all. My administration is committed to supporting the affected families and enforcing stricter safety measures to ensure such incidents do not recur,” the governor said.
The Jigawa State government has pledged to prioritize road safety reforms and provide social protection for those most affected by the tragedy.
