A tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has exploded, killing its driver and injuring one other person in Ibadan.

Mr Yemi Akinyinka, General Manager (GM), Oyo State Fire Service Agency, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Ibadan.

He explained that the tanker lost control, rammed into two other trucks, and somersaulted into a nearby pit before bursting into fire.

The GM said the incident resulted in the death of the tanker driver and injured the motor boy.

“The incident happened around Fijabi House, Agbowo, Ojoo/Iwo Road Expressway.

“The agency received a distress call about the fire incident at exactly 2.45 a.m. through a telephone call.

“The service swiftly deployed personnel to the scene and curtailed the fire from spreading to the nearby residential area.

“On arrival, we met three trucks of 20-metre distance from one another involved in the fire incident,

“The driver was burnt to death while the motor boy was rescued alive and taken to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, for treatment,” he said.

Akinyinka stressed that the tanker was utterly destroyed by the fire while the other two trucks were rescued by the agency’s personnel.

“The agency’s Director of Operations, Mr Ismail Adeleke with team members, the police, and some other security agencies were at the scene to prevent a breakdown of law and order,” he said.

The Jigawa government has approved N250 million matching fund for procurement of Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) to combat malnutrition in the state.

The Commissioner for Information, Youth and Sports, Mr Sagir Musa stated this while briefing journalists at the end of the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, on Wednesday in Dutse.

He said the gesture was in furtherance of the agreement between the state government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

“Furthermore, in the administration’s effort to strengthen health insurance scheme, the council approved the inclusion of political office holders into the scheme.

“This was provided by the Jigawa State Contributory Health Management Agency (JICHMA) Law No. 02 – 2024, as amended, with a view to improve the universal health coverage in the state and Nigeria at large,” he said

His reiterated commitment of the Umar Namadi administration to combat malnutrition and healthcare service delivery in the state.

The commissioner said the council also approved N3.36 billion loan to the state Pilgrims Board, to enable it to pay for the reservation of 400 Hajj seats for intending pilgrims of the state.

Musa said the approval was in line with council’s satisfaction with the timely refund of N2.2 billion loan granted to the board in 2024.

The Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Akwa Ibom Command, says it has arrested five suspected vandals for vandalising public infrastructure in the state.

The State Commandant of the corps, Mr Bashar Hussaini disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Uyo on Wednesday.

Hussaini said the suspects were arrested within the month, for vandalising electric cables and roofing sheets in public places.

According to him, three of the suspects were arrested for vandalising aluminium roofing sheets at international market in Itam, while the other two were nabbed for vandalising electric cables.

“As the leading agency in protection of critical infrastructure, we have deployed our men to all flashpoints and strategic places in the state to ensure that vandalism is brought to the barest minimum.

“This is to ensure our swift response in case of any report. We don’t have to wait until they come to us in the command. Our projection is to ensure that we meet up with our crime mapping.”

The commandant noted that it was worrisome that government would spend huge resources in providing infrastructure for the benefit of citizens, only for hoodlums to vandalise them for their selfish interest.

He said that the command would henceforth not only target the vandals, but also those who patronise them, adding that this would help to curb the menace.

“The corps is taken vandalism of government critical infrastructure very serious, and we are looking forward to receiving information from the public to help us protect the infrastructure for the benefit of all citizens.

”Those we have arrested already will be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others,” he said.

Hussaini reiterated the commitment of the command to tackling vandalism head-on, and making the state uncomfortable for vandals and criminal elements.

He added that the command, would continue to deploy intelligence and community based approach to security since the initiative was yielding positive results.

He called on residents to partner with the corps on timely dissemination of information of criminal activities in their communities for prompt action.