Less than three weeks after a deadly fuel tanker explosion claimed over 100 lives in Niger State, another explosion has struck, this time at a gas plant in Sabon-Wuse, Tafa Local Government Area.
The latest incident, which occurred late Saturday night, caused significant property damage but, fortunately, no lives were lost.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed the explosion, stating it happened around 11:00 PM at Tasiu Gas Plant, located beside Kalasma Filling Station along the Kaduna Expressway.
According to Director of NSEMA, Alhaji Baba Arah, the explosion was triggered during the transloading of gas from a tanker to the plant’s surface tank. This mishandling led to a fire that engulfed both the gas tanker and the plant.
“The gas tanker and the entire gas plant were completely destroyed by the fire,” Arah reported. “A car belonging to Abubakar Yakubu, parked close to the gas station, was also consumed by the flames.”
The blaze further spread to nearby businesses, including the Ngeil Grains Processing Factory, which was completely gutted. Approximately 550 bags of beans and six bags of suya beans stored at the factory were reduced to ashes, compounding the financial losses from the explosion.
Although no fatalities have been reported, the destruction has left a significant impact on the local economy, with business owners counting their losses.
Alhaji Arah confirmed that emergency responders were able to control the fire before it spread further and that efforts are ongoing to clear the site.
“Thankfully, no lives were lost, and the fire has been brought under control. We are continuing to assess the damage and ensure the area is safe for residents,” Arah said.
This incident has reignited concerns over safety practices at gas plants and fuel depots across Niger State. Residents are calling for stricter enforcement of safety regulations to prevent similar disasters in the future.
