The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on the National Assembly to enact laws that will criminalise the act of scooping fuel from fallen or leaking petroleum tankers, describing the practice as dangerous and unacceptable.
The call followed a recent incident at Liverpool Bridge in Apapa, Lagos, where residents were seen collecting fuel from an overturned tanker, despite the obvious risk of fire outbreaks and explosions.
Speaking on the incident, the Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, condemned the act, warning that fuel scooping poses a serious threat to public safety, nearby communities, motorists, and critical infrastructure. He stressed that the recurring nature of such incidents shows that public awareness campaigns alone are no longer sufficient.
Issa-Onilu explained that although the agency has consistently sensitised Nigerians on the dangers of fuel scooping, many citizens continue to ignore warnings, often leading to fatal explosions. He therefore urged lawmakers to introduce clear legal provisions that would define fuel scooping as a criminal offence, with stiff penalties to serve as a deterrent.
According to the NOA boss, criminalisation, combined with sustained public education and strict enforcement, would help curb the dangerous practice and prevent avoidable loss of lives.
Fuel scooping has been linked to several deadly explosions across the country over the years, making the NOA’s call part of a broader push to improve public safety and emergency response around petroleum transportation accidents in Nigeria. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.