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Tanker explosion
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Another tanker explosion tragedy in Nigeria prompts calls for tougher regulation

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Rescue teams at the scene of the Petrol tanker explosion  in Niger State, Nigeria.

Photo credit: Pool

Nigerian officials admit that lax regulations on the transport of petrol by road are to blame for frequent accidents that have often resulted in high death tolls.

One such accident on Saturday, January 18 killed 86 people as residents scrambled to scoop fuel from a derailed tanker in Niger State. Most of those killed were burnt beyond recognition and were buried in a mass grave on Sunday.

But the accident at Dikko in Guarara, Niger State, is the kind that has happened before. 

Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), said more victims died while being treated for burns caused by the fire from the explosion.  

The Nigerian Governors' Forum, made up of the country's 36 state governors, said the accident had "cast a shadow of grief over the entire nation". 

The forum said it was united in calling for stricter enforcement of safety measures across the country, especially in the transportation and handling of hazardous materials.

"This incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to enhance our regulatory frameworks to prevent such occurrences in the future," the Forum said.

According to the governors, the accident was preventable and they have asked the relevant authorities to provide comprehensive medical care to the injured and instructed the security and road safety authorities to implement measures to prevent similar incidents. 

But the tanker explosion was only a symptom, not the problem. Nigeria produces about 1.4 million barrels of oil a day, making it Africa's biggest oil producer. 

But it does little to refine its oil. Two new refineries, the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote refinery and another state-owned refinery, can barely keep up with demand.

The second problem is that most imported oil products have to be transported by road because there are no alternatives such as pipelines or rail, making road transport both cheaper and dangerous.

The incident happened when a tanker loaded with petrol overturned. When the owners tried to transfer the fuel to another tanker, locals rushed to scoop it up, causing a fire that exploded. According to NSEMA, the fire was caused by sparks from a nearby generator.

The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, blamed "reckless truck drivers" for endangering the lives of local citizens. 

While assessing the extent of the damage caused by the incident and the loss of life, the governor issued a ban on the movement of heavy trucks plying the route where the explosion occurred on Saturday. 

But in Nigeria it may take more than warnings and bans. Most people see the derailed tankers as an opportunity, the difference between having a meal or not, by scooping up fuel in risky conditions for resale.

While many Nigerians continue to blame the incessant incidents on the current economic hardship that has driven people to desperate measures, including scooping fuel from overturned tankers, others are calling for stricter traffic regulations to prevent similar disasters. 

Many are struggling to access petrol as its price has more than quintupled since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took office in May 2023 and removed subsidies from the product.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), inflation for most of 2024 to date has been over 34.8 per cent, while food inflation has peaked at over 39 per cent.

As a result, petrol tanker explosions have become common in Nigeria, often resulting in heavy casualties.

In September 2024, at least 48 people were killed after a tanker carrying petrol exploded on a busy highway in Niger State. In October 2024, an overturned tanker exploded in northern Nigeria, killing at least 147 people who had rushed to the scene to scoop up leaking petrol.

More than 100 other people injured in the explosion were taken to hospitals in the region, many in critical condition.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) reported that in 2020 alone, there were 1,531 tanker accidents, resulting in 535 deaths and 1,142 injuries. 

According to the FRSC, more than 5,000 people will die in road crashes in Nigeria in 2023, down from nearly 6,500 the previous year.

President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Orientation Agency to launch a nationwide enlightenment campaign to sensitise the public on the serious risks and environmental hazards of siphoning fuel from overturned tankers. 

He had earlier promised to review and improve safety protocols for the transport of fuel.