At least 48 people lost their lives on Sunday when a fuel tanker exploded after colliding with another vehicle in north-central Nigeria, according to the state’s disaster management agency. The State Emergency Management Agency in Niger state reported that the fuel tanker collided with a truck transporting travelers and cattle. Several other vehicles were also involved in the accident.
Hussaini Ibrahim, the agency’s spokesperson, confirmed the death toll at 48, and officials are still working to clear the accident scene.
This incident comes shortly after Nigeria’s state-owned company, NNPC Ltd, raised gasoline prices by at least 39% last week—the second significant increase in over a year. Despite the hike, fuel shortages persist, leading to long queues at gas stations in the country’s major cities and towns.
