The petrol tanker explosion on the Karu Bridge between Kugbo and Nyanya in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja has been linked to a possible brake failure, according to preliminary reports.
An eyewitness of the incident reportedly claimed that the driver of the truck lost control occasioning the accident in which many were burnt alive.
Africa Health Report published yesterday that unspecified numbers of casualties affecting passersby and motorists were reported.
Also, the PCNG Initiative, in a statement released on their X account on Wednesday, urged the public to await a full investigation but confirmed that initial findings point to a brake system failure as the likely cause of the accident. The suspected malfunction reportedly led to the tanker losing control before the explosion occurred.
“We caution against speculation while authorities conduct a thorough investigation,” the statement read, adding that safety remains a top priority in the push for cleaner energy solutions.
Emergency responders, including the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Nigeria Police Force, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), were deployed swiftly to manage the situation, rescue victims, and prevent further damage.
The PCNG Initiative reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring strict safety protocols in fuel transportation and called for enhanced vehicle maintenance regulations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
