The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has expressed deep concern over Monday’s tanker explosion on the Zaria-Kano highway, calling for stricter adherence to road safety standards.
The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. in the Dan Magaji area of Zaria when a Liquefied Natural Gas (LPG) tanker heading to Kano suffered a tyre blowout and collided with the rear of an empty fuel tanker, triggering a massive explosion.
Contrary to initial reports of multiple fatalities, Zaria Local Government Chairman, Engineer Jamil Muhammad, confirmed that no lives were lost. Four people sustained injuries and were quickly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. He also dismissed claims that two commercial Golf vehicles were involved.
Authorities, including the Kaduna State Police Command, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Federal Fire Service, confirmed the absence of fatalities. The FRSC, working with local officials, managed traffic on the busy route, while fire service personnel contained the blaze.
Describing the incident as “unfortunate,” Speaker Tajudeen urged motorists to exercise greater caution and comply with safety regulations.
“This accident is a stark reminder of the need for greater vigilance on our roads. Incidents like these are avoidable when proper safety standards are adhered to,” he said.
He called on relevant authorities to intensify efforts in preventing such accidents, stressing that violations of road safety rules continue to put lives at risk.
