By Abbanobi -Eku Onyekachi, Abuja
The Accident Prevention and Rescue Initiative (APRI) has warned Nigerians of the grave dangers of scooping fuel from fallen tankers. Executive Director Amb. Fidelis Nnadi condemned the practice, describing it as “suicidal” and describing the widespread ignorance of the risks as regrettable. Nnadi cited the recent fuel tanker explosion in Suleja, Niger State, as a stark reminder of the tragedies caused by this dangerous practice.
The recent fuel tanker explosion in Suleja, Niger State, which claimed nearly 100 lives, is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of fuel scooping in Nigeria ¹. This tragic incident is not an isolated one. On October 17th, 2024, a fuel tanker overturned and exploded in Jigawa State, resulting in the loss of at least 153 lives as people rushed to scoop petrol.
Similar incidents have occurred in Enugu State, where 100 lives were reportedly lost at Ugwu Onyama, and in Anambra State, where accidents happened at Army Barracks Onitsha, Zik’s Round About Onitsha, and the Upper-Iweka axis. In each of these cases, people risked their lives to scoop fuel from the accident scenes. The recurring fuel tanker accidents on Nigerian roads have claimed numerous innocent lives, and this trend will continue as long as people engage in this dangerous practice.
Ignoring security warnings and cautions, many people risk losing their lives in fuel tanker accidents, Amb. Fidelis Nnadi warned. He disagreed with the notion that poverty drives people to scoop fuel, arguing that no one, regardless of economic status, would willingly choose death. Nnadi emphasized that scooping fuel from fallen tankers is a disaster waiting to happen, posing chronic health hazards, environmental damage, severe burns, injuries, and untimely deaths.
To mitigate these risks, Nnadi advised the government to deploy firefighting service stations and emergency response teams every 20 kilometers along Nigerian highways. He expressed APRI’s willingness to partner with the government to educate Nigerians on the dangers of scooping fuel and other petroleum products from fallen tankers. Ultimately, Nnadi called on security agencies to hold tanker owners accountable for entrusting vehicles to reckless drivers and urged legislators to enact laws restricting the movement of vehicles carrying highly inflammable products during the day.
