Reps Link Niger Tanker Explosions to Poor Roads, Lax Safety Rules

Reps Link Niger Tanker Explosions to Poor Roads, Lax Safety Rules

The House of Representatives has attributed the frequent tanker explosions and fatal accidents along the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Diko Road in Niger State to its deplorable state and inadequate enforcement of safety standards, resulting in significant loss of life and property.This resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance titled “Urgent Need for Intervention on the Recurrent Tanker Explosions, Fatal Accidents, and Gridlock Along the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Diko Road in Niger State,” moved by Rt Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi (SMA), representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency, during Wednesday’s plenary session on October 22, 2025.Abdullahi expressed profound sorrow over a recent tanker explosion at Essa Village in Katcha Local Government Area, which claimed over 30 lives, injured more than 40 people, and destroyed vehicles, livestock, and goods worth millions of naira. He noted that the incident occurred on the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Diko Road, a critical federal highway connecting Niger State to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other regions, vital for transporting petroleum products and agricultural goods.The lawmaker highlighted that the Essa Village tragedy is part of a series of recurring explosions and accidents on the route, which have eroded public trust in its safety. He criticized the road’s long-standing neglect, despite multiple rehabilitation contracts awarded by successive administrations that remain uncompleted. Abdullahi also lamented the Federal Government’s recent cancellation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)’s road intervention projects, which has left the rehabilitation of this highway in limbo, exacerbating its status as a “death trap” for motorists, tanker drivers, and traders.The House adopted the motion, urging the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to urgently mobilize resources and contractors to rehabilitate, expand, and complete the road, particularly the Bida–Agaie section. It also directed the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and relevant agencies to strengthen enforcement of safety standards for tanker and heavy-duty vehicle operations, ensuring compliance with roadworthiness, loading, and emergency response protocols.Additionally, the lawmakers called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials and medical support to victims of the Essa Village explosion. The House tasked its Committees on Works, FERMA, FRSC, and Finance to assess the road’s condition, review past contractual arrangements, and report back within two weeks for further legislative action.  

Source: Reps Link Niger Tanker Explosions to Poor Roads, Lax Safety Rules

 - NigerianEye

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