A devastating fuel tanker explosion in Niger State, northern Nigeria, has claimed the lives of at least 70 people and left many more injured, according to the country’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday near the Suleja area when an attempt to transfer gasoline between two tankers using a generator resulted in a massive blast.
Official Statements on the Incident
“As of this report, over 70 bodies have been recovered, 56 individuals are injured, and more than 15 shops have been destroyed,” NEMA stated in an official release on Saturday.
Kumar Tsukwam, a sector commander for Niger State with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), shed more light on the events leading to the explosion. According to him, the tragedy began when people rushed to scoop spilled petrol from an overturned tanker.
“The tanker burst into flames, engulfing another tanker,” he explained. “Most of the victims were burnt beyond recognition. We are at the scene to clear things up,” he added, noting that firefighters had successfully extinguished the fire.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago also confirmed the incident in a statement, describing it as “worrisome, heartbreaking, and unfortunate.”
Growing Concerns Over Tanker Accidents in Nigeria
This latest tragedy is part of a troubling pattern of fuel tanker accidents in Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer. Such incidents have become increasingly frequent, claiming dozens of lives as the nation grapples with its worst cost-of-living crisis in decades.
The price of petrol has skyrocketed by over 400% since President Bola Tinubu ended a decades-old fuel subsidy in May 2023. The sharp increase has driven many Nigerians to take significant risks to recover and sell fuel from overturned tankers on the black market.
Past Incidents Highlight a Persistent Problem
In October 2024, more than 150 people were killed in a similar incident in Jigawa State, also in northern Nigeria. In that case, a large crowd gathered around an overturned tanker to collect fuel, leading to a catastrophic explosion. Over 100 individuals were injured, and many victims were buried in a mass funeral organized by local authorities.
Just a month earlier, in September 2024, Niger State experienced another tragedy when 59 people were killed after a fuel tanker collided with a truck carrying passengers and cattle.
Government Response and Safety Measures
Following the October 2024 disaster, President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving fuel transportation safety. Measures announced included enhanced highway patrols, stricter enforcement of safety regulations, and the review of existing fuel transport protocols. Despite these promises, the recurrence of such incidents underscores the urgent need for effective implementation and enforcement of these measures.
The Human Cost
The repeated tragedies reveal not just gaps in safety measures but also the desperate circumstances driving individuals to risk their lives for fuel. With over 70 lives lost and countless families grieving, this latest explosion serves as a somber reminder of the need for systemic change to prevent further loss of life.eased patrols, stricter enforcement of safety regulations, and other highway safety mechanisms.