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The Federal Government should be concerned over the recurring petrol tanker explosions across the country. The regularity of the avoidable gory incidents is disturbing and should not be allowed to continue. The relevant agencies must rise to the challenge and significantly curb the carnage and attendant loss of lives and properties.
The most recent one is the October 21, 2025 incident, which occurred at Essa community along the Bida–Badeggi–Agaie road in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State. Residents reportedly attempted to scoop the fuel, triggering a massive explosion. As usual, the death toll from the unfortunate incident varies. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had initially put the death toll from the incident at 45, with 63 other victims sustaining varying degrees of burns. A breakdown of the figures showed that 12 males, 27 females, and six children, were killed in the inferno.
The Head of Operations, NEMA Minna Office, Hussaini Isah, who oversees Niger and Kwara states, explained that the explosion was caused by a bad section of the road, which led to the accident. According to Isah, “all the deaths and injured persons were as result of scooping attitudes. Some of the victims were initially evacuated to Essa Primary Health Care, Idris Private Hospital, but were later moved to Umaru Sanda General Hospital Bida and Bida Federal Medical Centre. But 14 critically injured were referred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital for further treatment.”
However, situation updates from the Director of Information and Linkages of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Dr Ibrahim Hussaini, revealed that the death toll had risen to 57, with 52 victims currently receiving treatment in different hospitals. All the accounts indicated that the victims were among those attempting to scoop fuel from the fallen tanker when the explosion occurred.
Multiple deaths arising from tanker accidents and petrol scooping have been recorded in different parts of the country despite repeated warnings by the government and public awareness by the media. The latest accident adds to the list of such ugly incidents in Niger State in recent times. In January, 48 persons were killed in similar accident in Agaie Local Government Area of the State. Over 50 cattle and two vehicles were also burnt. The incident occurred when a tanker loaded with petrol collided with a trailer truck loaded with travellers and cattle from Wudil in Kano State heading to Lagos.
On January 5, five persons were killed, many properties including banks, and vehicles burnt in a tanker explosion in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, of Delta State. Earlier in November 2024, 209 lives were lost, while 99 others sustained injuries in fuel tanker explosion that occurred on October 14 in Majiya town, of Jigawa State. The accident occurred when a tanker transporting petrol from Kano to Yobe overturned near Majiya village, Taura Local Government Area. As villagers gathered to scoop fuel, a massive explosion and fire engulfed the area and killed hundreds of people. The disaster also affected 167 families, destroying properties worth millions of Naira. Similar incidences had occurred in some other parts of the country.
The situation cannot be allowed to continue. Relevant government agencies should take necessary steps to reduce the accidents. Appropriate measures should be put in place to check the menace. The poor state of the roads in some parts of the country has been identified as a contributing factor to the incidents. Many of the roads and highways are riddled with potholes. Recklessness of the drivers is another factor, as well as night driving. Some of the vehicles are equally in bad shape and not well-articulated.
Government should ensure stricter safety protocols for petroleum transporters and articulated vehicles. Drivers of articulated vehicles and trucks need to be more careful while going about their duty. They should undergo refresher courses on the job. Illiterate ones among them should also be educated to be able to read and interpret road signs and warnings.
The failed portions of the roads should equally be fixed. This requires regular inspection of the roads by concerned agencies and fixing failed portions. It needs to be reiterated that the welfare and protection of the citizens and their property remain the primary function of the government. The authorities owe it to the victims and generality of Nigerians that such road disasters that resulted to loss of lives and properties in Niger and elsewhere do recur. Government at all levels should enforce stricter safety measures on the roads.
Alternative means of transporting fuel and other combustible products must be devised. Let the rail tracks, pipe lines or waterways be activated for the purpose. Doing so will take petrol distribution away from contact with road users. Drivers of articulated vehicles need to be more careful on the roads. Government agencies such as the police and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), should step up action in their monitoring duties.
We commiserate with the affected families of the Niger fuel tanker explosion. We equally urge Nigerians to desist from scooping fuel from fallen tankers. The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and related bodies should engage in more enlightenment campaigns to educate the public on the dangers of scooping fuel from fallen tankers. Let relief materials be extended to the victims of the mishap to assuage their pains.
