By Correspondent in Minna.
Nearly five months after a devastating petrol tanker explosion at Dikko Junction in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, survivors and families of the victims are still struggling to rebuild their lives.
Our correspondent recalls that the tragic incident, which occurred on January 20, 2025, claimed more than 100 lives and left many others with serious injuries.
The tanker, carrying fuel, reportedly lost control while navigating a bad section of the road and exploded, engulfing nearby shops and individuals in flames.
In the aftermath, the disaster drew nationwide attention and sympathy, prompting individuals, political office holders, and organizations from within and outside Nigeria to make generous donations aimed at supporting the victims and their families.
However, as weeks turned into months, survivors say they are still waiting the state government for assistance to help them get back on their feet.
Many of them, including those who lost their shops and means of livelihood, expressed concern over what they described as a prolonged silence regarding the promised support.
Some of the affected traders told our correspondent that they have resorted to self-help, borrowing funds to begin rebuilding the over 20 shops destroyed in the incident.
One of the survivors, Mr. Idrisu, a father of five, shared how he lost his shop where he sold soft drinks, snacks, and beverages. “The explosion took away everything. Though we received some medical support at the time, we are still hoping for more help to restart our lives,” he said.
The victims, mostly youths, described the experience as traumatizing and emphasized the need for timely intervention to prevent further hardship.
In response to inquiries, the Director of Relief and Interventions at the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Mallam Salihu Garba, stated that the agency had conducted a comprehensive disaster recovery assessment and submitted its report to the state government.
He noted that they are now awaiting further directives.
Efforts to get an official update from the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hajiya Binta Mamman, were unsuccessful. Our correspondent’s calls were not answered, and messages sent to her mobile phone remained unanswered as of the time of filing this report.
Despite the challenges, the survivors said they remain hopeful that assistance will eventually come, enabling them to rebuild their lives and move forward from the tragedy that changed their world.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
