The Niger State Government on Tuesday in Minna announced a N28 million relief package for families of the victims of Saturday fire disaster caused by a petrol tanker in Rafi Local Government Area of the state.
A statement by Malam Jibrin Ndace, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sani Bello of Niger State, disclosed that the governor made this known when he paid a condolence visit to survivors and families of the victims of the inferno.
The incident claimed 19 lives, with many injured and property worth millions of Naira destroyed.
Bello said that the cash assistance was to provide succour for the families of the deceased as well as help those whose houses and business premises were destroyed.
He said that measures would be taken to ensure that future occurrence are averted, noting that the town has been prone to explosions from tankers conveying high volume of inflammable liquid.
The Governor, who noted that the houses built close to the main road contributed to the high casualty figure, said government would look into the possibilities of relocating the houses.
He then directed the State Ministry of Works to collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Corps to find short term solution to avert the incessant tanker accidents in the area.
The Governor prayed for the victims of the fire incident and assured the people of the area that government would foot the hospital bills of those currently receiving treatment.
Also speaking, the Emir of Kagara, Alhaji Salihu Tanko, expressed gratitude to the governor for the visit and prayed for the repose of the victims of the fire incident.
Earlier, the head of the FRSC unit in Kontagora, Alfred Yahaya, attributed accidents in the area to over speeding, especially heavy duty trucks such as tankers carrying high volume of inflammable liquid.
Yahaya said though the Federal Government has called for the removal of speed bumps from the highways, he appealed for special consideration to be given to trouble spots like Tegina.
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