Fuel Tanker Explosion in Nigeria Claims 48 Lives Following Collision

In a tragic incident in north-central Nigeria, at least 48 individuals lost their lives on Sunday due to an explosion involving a fuel tanker truck. The explosion occurred after the tanker collided with another vehicle, as reported by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) of Niger State.

The collision involved a truck transporting passengers and cattle, and several other vehicles were affected in the resulting disaster. Hussaini Ibrahim, a spokesperson for the agency, confirmed the death toll and indicated that officials were still working to clear the site of the accident.

This incident comes amid ongoing fuel shortages in Nigeria, following a significant increase in gasoline prices last week. The state-owned company NNPC Ltd raised fuel prices by at least 39%, marking the second major hike in over a year. As a result, motorists have faced long queues at fuel stations across major cities and towns in the country.