Tanker Explosion: Federal Government Orders Emergency Palliative Work On Niger Road

The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has deployed emergency committee to Niger State, working with the contractor handling the project, CGC Nigeria Limited, to ensure palliative rehabilitation is carried out on the Lambata-Lapai-Bida road.

He gave the directive on Thursday after a meeting with the delegation of the National Assembly members from Niger State, the governor of Niger State and the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on the immediate intervention to the affected road.

The meeting followed the tanker explosion at Essa Village, CH.97+000, along Lambata-Lapai-Bida Road in Niger State on Tuesday.

He condoled with the families of those who lost their lives, the governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umar Bago, and the people of Niger State over the unfortunate tanker inferno.

Umahi, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, set up emergency committee to immediately move to Niger State, working with the contractor handling the project, CGC Nigeria Limited, to ensure that palliative rehabilitation is carried out on the affected road.

The statement noted that the project was initially NNPC funded, but in view of the NNPCL’s withdrawal from the funding scheme nationwide, the President, Bola Tinubu, has directed that all the inherited ongoing projects hitherto funded by NNPC be reviewed and presented to him, and that no such projects should be stopped for the reason of the exit of NNPCL from the funding scheme.

“The Federal Ministry of Works has reviewed all such projects, and the projects will by next week be presented to Mr. President,” he added.

The Minister, therefore, called on all contractors on the project, especially those who have generated certificates for payment to go back to the site while they expected payment from November 2025.

He reiterated the commitment of the Renewed Hope Administration to building enduring road infrastructure nationwide and ensuring sustainable growth and prosperous economy through the bequest of massive and solid road infrastructure for our future generation.