The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has ordered a multi-agency investigation into the explosion involving a liquefied natural gas-powered bus at Mando Motor Park, Kaduna, assuring residents that the incident was not security-related.
The directive followed preliminary findings by the Kaduna State Government, which attributed the early morning blast on April 5 to a technical fault allegedly linked to the overfilling of a compressed natural gas tank.
However, the operator of the affected vehicle, Silver Luxury Travel, has rejected the claim, insisting that the cause of the explosion has yet to be determined.
In a Tuesday statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, the state government described the explosion as minor and clarified that it did not involve any explosive device.
“The incident was not a bomb explosion. There was no casualty and no significant property damage. The situation was swiftly brought under control, and normal activities have since resumed,” Maiyaki said.
He added that Sani had directed security agencies, technical regulators, and safety authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into both the immediate and remote causes of the explosion.
According to him, “the Governor has mandated a comprehensive probe to ensure that all necessary safety standards are upheld and to prevent a recurrence.”
Maiyaki also commended the Kaduna State Police Command, particularly its Bomb Disposal Unit, for its prompt response in securing the scene and calming public fears.
He urged residents to disregard unverified reports circulating in the public space and continue their lawful activities without panic.
But in a counterstatement, Silver Luxury Travel disputed the government’s preliminary findings, maintaining that investigations were still ongoing.
“The cause of the explosion has not been ascertained. It is therefore premature to attribute it to any specific factor, including overfilling of a gas tank,” the company said.
The firm disclosed that the blast affected two of its buses parked side by side at its Kaduna terminal—one powered by LNG and the other by diesel.
It explained that the explosion occurred between the two vehicles, damaging a fuel tank and a gas canister, which made it difficult to immediately determine the exact source of the blast.
“Both buses have multiple tanks, but only those on the affected side were impacted,” the statement added.
While not ruling out possible sabotage, the company said it had reported the incident to the police and would fully cooperate with investigators.
It also clarified that, contrary to initial speculation, none of its buses runs on compressed natural gas.
“Only one of the affected buses is LNG-powered, and the tank was not overfilled as speculated,” the company stated.
The incident has raised concerns over safety compliance in the use of gas-powered vehicles, especially as more transport operators adopt alternative fuel systems amid rising energy costs.
Authorities say the outcome of the ongoing investigation will guide further regulatory actions to strengthen safety standards in the sector.
(Punch)
