At least 70 die in explosion in Nigeria while collecting fuel from overturned tanker

At least 70 people have been killed in an explosion in north-central Nigeria after a gasoline tanker crashed and ignited in the early hours of Saturday. The explosion occurred after locals rushed to the scene to collect the spilled fuel. The country’s emergency response agency confirmed the tragic incident, which has left many victims severely burned.

Eyewitness Abdulazeez described the horrifying sequence of events: locals had gathered to scoop up the fuel that had leaked from the overturned tanker, and some even brought a generator to transfer the fuel into another truck. However, when the generator was started, it triggered the explosion, engulfing the area in flames. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) reported that most of the victims were burned beyond recognition, making identification nearly impossible.

This explosion is just one in a series of similar incidents in Nigeria, where a lack of efficient transportation infrastructure and rising fuel prices have led to tragic consequences. Fatal accidents involving tanker trucks are unfortunately common, particularly on Nigeria’s major roads, which are often congested with poorly maintained vehicles.

The recent surge in petrol prices, which have increased by over 400 percent since May 2023 following President Bola Tinubu’s decision to scrap a decades-old fuel subsidy, has worsened the situation. The removal of the subsidy has led to a sharp rise in fuel costs, pushing many Nigerians to take extreme and dangerous measures to obtain fuel. In these circumstances, people often risk their lives by rushing to accident sites to collect fuel from overturned tankers, despite the inherent dangers of fire and explosion.

This practice is not new. In October 2022, more than 170 people were killed in a similar incident in Jigawa State, located in northern Nigeria. The explosion occurred after people attempted to collect fuel from an overturned tanker, highlighting the ongoing risks that many Nigerians face due to the lack of alternatives for obtaining fuel.

The high rate of such incidents underscores the broader issue of Nigeria’s inadequate infrastructure. The country’s railway system, which could serve as a safer and more reliable means of transporting goods, remains underdeveloped. As a result, road transport, particularly by truck, remains the primary method of moving goods across the country. However, this system is prone to frequent accidents, especially on poorly maintained roads.

The government’s failure to address these infrastructure deficiencies, coupled with the economic strain caused by the removal of the fuel subsidy, has created a dangerous environment. While efforts are being made to improve road safety and prevent accidents, the need for a more comprehensive solution to Nigeria’s transportation and fuel distribution challenges remains critical.

In the wake of the most recent explosion, many Nigerians are calling for greater government intervention. There are growing demands for improved safety standards, better regulation of fuel distribution, and investments in infrastructure. Furthermore, calls for a more equitable economic policy that can protect the most vulnerable citizens from the devastating effects of rising fuel prices are gaining momentum.

As the country continues to grapple with the consequences of these frequent explosions and accidents, the urgency of addressing the underlying issues has never been more apparent. Until safer methods of fuel distribution and better transportation options are developed, Nigeria will likely continue to see tragic incidents like the one that claimed the lives of at least 70 people on Saturday.

The latest explosion is a stark reminder of the human cost of poor infrastructure and economic policies that fail to protect citizens. As the country moves forward, it will need to prioritize the safety and well-being of its people, ensuring that tragic accidents like this one are not repeated in the future.

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