Majia Tanker Explosion: Jigawa Govt. Begins Disbursement Of N839.6 Million To Victims

…Raises Taskforce To Recover Unfulfilled Pledged Donations

By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse

More than five months after the devastating petroleum tanker explosion in Majia community in Taura local government area of Jigawa state, the state government has confirmed the receipt of about N839 million out of the N1.6 billion pledged as donations to the families of the victims by individuals, governments and corporate organisations.

The development came to light after the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting presided over by Governor, Umar Namadi, reviewed the pledges of assistance made to the state government following the October 14, 2024 inferno, involving over 210 victims.

The state Commissioner for Information, Sagir Ahmed Musa, while briefing reporters on the outcome of the Council said the state has set a committee chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG), Malam Bala Ibrahim to follow up and ensure that, those who have to redeem their pledges did so without further delay.

The commissioner, however, confirmed that the state government had received the total sum of N839 million out of the over N 1.6 billion made as pledges of financial support to the families of the affected by various groups including state governments, individuals and private sector players.

While Musa did not give the details of the “defaulting” individuals, governments and corporate organizations, he however confirmed the Council’s setting of a committee headed by the SSG to ensure that the pledged amounts were redeemed.

In the meantime, the Council approved the immediate disbursement of the redeemed N839.6 million to the 210 victims of incident comprising both the injured victims and the families of the deceased.

“The amount, consisting of redeemed pledges from individuals, groups, corporate organizations, and institutions, will be disbursed to the 210 victims of the Majia Tanker Incident (both injured and families of the deceased).

“Additionally, the Committee, chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Bala Ibrahim, has been tasked with following up on those who have yet to redeem their pledges.”

It would be recalled that following the incident, some notable individuals state governments and corporate organizations made pledges and donations to state government to help in alleviating the plight of the victims.

Some of the notable donours included the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, (NGF), whose chairman and Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; the Northern State’s Governor’s Forum, (NSGF), whose chairman and Gombe state, Muhammad Inuwa Yahays made a pledge of N50 million each by 17 of the state northern states, Kano and Sokoto, which pledged N100 million apiece.

Besides, Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group of Companies, Aliko Dangote made various categories of pledges to the victims, including the dead and the injured among others.

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