Mohammed Bago donates ₦1m to families of the deceased and ₦500,000 to injured victims after the tragic Niger tanker explosion in Essa community.
Mohammed Bago, the Governor of Niger State, has announced a donation of ₦1 million to each family of the deceased and ₦500,000 to every injured survivor following the devastating tanker explosion in Essa, Katcha Local Government Area.
Also read: Bala Mohammed Assures Investors in Bauchi Ahead of Summit
Governor Bago made the announcement on Thursday during a condolence visit to the affected community. He met with residents and local leaders while conducting an on-the-spot assessment of the disaster scene.
The gesture, he said, was aimed at providing relief and support to families grappling with loss and recovery.
According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, the governor expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and prayed for the speedy recovery of those receiving treatment in hospitals across Bida and Abuja.
The explosion, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon, claimed at least 42 lives and left 52 others injured. The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Authority, Abdullahi Arah, attributed the fire to poor road conditions and high temperatures in the area, which ignited spilled fuel from the fallen tanker along the Bida–Badegi–Agaie road.
While sympathising with the community, Mohammed Bago condemned the act of residents scooping petrol from the fallen tanker, describing it as both “dangerous and criminal.” He urged locals to act responsibly during such emergencies, stressing that stealing fuel from accident sites endangers lives and must be discouraged.
“We came to commiserate with them over their losses and also talk to their conscience. 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,” the governor warned.
In addition to the financial support, Bago announced plans to build a new primary healthcare centre in Essa to improve emergency response and community healthcare services.
He also revealed that business magnate Aliko Dangote had pledged to repair the Mokwa–Lambata Road, with construction expected to commence soon — a move widely seen as a positive step toward preventing similar tragedies.
Also read: Bala Mohammed Urges PDP to Field Southern Christian for 2027
The governor’s swift response and decisive support have been described by residents as a compassionate and much-needed intervention in the wake of an incident that shook the entire Niger community.
