Nigeria has long been plagued by a recurring tragedy of fuel tanker explosions that claim lives in horrifying numbers, often leaving entire communities in mourning.
These accidents, exacerbated by poverty and inadequate infrastructure, have turned into a vicious cycle of death and destruction.
Fuel scooping, in which individuals risk their lives to collect spilt petrol from tanker accidents, has significantly contributed to these avoidable losses.
The list of such incidents grows longer each year, raising urgent questions about the underlying causes and, more importantly, the actions needed to prevent these tragedies.
The fuel-scooping culture is borne out of desperation. In a nation where millions struggle with poverty, spilt fuel represents a chance to make quick money or secure much-needed resources. What may seem like an opportunity, however, often turns deadly. Time and again, we have seen lives lost when these spills ignite, leading to devastating explosions. The victims are usually the most vulnerable in society, those driven by the need to survive in a challenging economic environment.
One of the earliest and most devastating examples of such an incident occurred in 1998 in Jesse, Delta State.
This was the deadliest of its kind, killing over 1,000 people when a pipeline owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) exploded. Residents had been scooping fuel from the pipeline, completely unaware of the risk they were taking. Over 20 years later, the Jesse explosion remains a grim reminder of the dangers posed by this practice, but despite the scale of the disaster, similar incidents have occurred repeatedly across the country.
In 2003, more than 100 lives were lost in Onicha-Amaiyi, Abia State, when another explosion occurred as locals tried to collect leaking fuel. Then, in 2006, a fuel pipeline explosion in Abule Egba, Lagos, claimed over 200 lives, with residents again rushing to scoop up the fuel despite the obvious dangers. Fast forward to January 2019, and another tanker explosion in Odukpani, Cross River State, killed at least 60 people. The pattern was the same, an overturned tanker, residents rushing to collect the spilled fuel, and a resulting explosion that left scores dead.
A few months later, in July 2019, a tanker explosion in Ahumbe, Benue State, killed 50 people and left over 100 others injured. The scene was familiar, people desperate to collect fuel from an overturned tanker, unaware they were standing on a time bomb.
The most recent incident, in October 2024, occurred in Majia, Jigawa State, where more than 170 people lost their lives when a tanker overturned and residents rushed to the scene to scoop fuel. The tragedy once again highlights the recurrent nature of these incidents, and the government’s response, including President Bola Tinubu’s directive to review fuel transportation safety protocols, has come far too late for the victims of these avoidable tragedies.
So, what are the root causes of this persistent problem?
First and foremost, Nigeria’s struggling economy forces many into dangerous situations. In areas where jobs are scarce, and poverty is widespread, spilled fuel represents a form of wealth, an opportunity to meet immediate needs. When tankers crash or pipelines leak, communities see a fleeting chance to profit, often unaware of the imminent danger.
Moreover, Nigeria’s road infrastructure and reliance on road transport for fuel distribution compound the risk. The country’s fuel is mostly transported via tankers on poorly maintained roads, making accidents almost inevitable. These tankers, often overloaded and poorly maintained, are a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. Each accident is met with the same cycle: a crash, fuel spills, residents rushing to the scene, and then, boom, an explosion.
The lack of public awareness and safety regulations also compounds the problem. Many Nigerians simply do not understand the dangers posed by fuel scooping. Despite repeated incidents, there have been few widespread public education campaigns to warn people of the risks. Worse still, regulatory oversight has been weak, with lax enforcement of transportation safety protocols, leading to a system where fuel accidents are far too frequent.
The human cost of these tanker explosions is staggering, but the solution is within reach.
The government must act decisively to break this cycle of death. First, it is essential to implement stricter regulations for the transportation of fuel. This means enforcing safety standards on tanker maintenance and ensuring that tankers are not overloaded. It also requires improving the country’s road infrastructure to reduce the number of accidents in the first place.
Second, a robust public awareness campaign is critical. People must be educated about the dangers of fuel scooping. The message should be clear: no amount of free fuel is worth risking your life. This will require coordinated efforts between government agencies, media outlets, and local communities.
Finally, long-term solutions to poverty and economic hardship must be addressed. As long as poverty persists, people will continue to risk their lives for the promise of quick financial gain. Creating economic opportunities, improving living conditions, and ensuring access to safe resources are also essential steps in preventing future tragedies.
The timeline of fuel tanker explosions and fuel scooping deaths in Nigeria is a grim one, but it does not have to define the future. With the right interventions, both immediate and long-term, these tragedies can be prevented. The time to act is now before more lives are lost.