Lagos Tanker Mishap and Nigeria’s Troubled History with Fuel Accidents

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Editorial: Lagos Tanker Mishap and Nigeria’s Troubled History with Fuel Accidents

The recent diesel tanker overturn in Lagos, which could have sparked a devastating inferno, is not an isolated incident but part of a long and tragic history of fuel-related disasters in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s reliance on road tankers for transporting petroleum products has created a recurring nightmare on its highways.

Over the past two decades, hundreds of accidents involving fuel tankers have claimed thousands of lives. Research shows that between 2009 and 2024, at least 169 tanker accidents occurred across the country, resulting in more than 1,600 deaths and countless injuries.

In some cases, entire communities were engulfed in flames when spilled fuel ignited, leaving behind charred vehicles, destroyed homes, and grieving families.

One of the most harrowing examples occurred in 2024, when a tanker explosion killed nearly 150 people. The tragedy underscored the lethal combination of poorly maintained vehicles, dilapidated roads, and unsafe practices such as fuel scooping.

In fact, government reports revealed that between October 2024 and January 2025 alone, 300 Nigerians lost their lives in tanker-related explosions. These figures highlight the scale of the crisis and the urgent need for reform.

Fuel scooping—where residents rush to collect spilled petrol or diesel—has become a dangerous ritual in the aftermath of accidents. Despite repeated warnings, many Nigerians continue to risk their lives in pursuit of free fuel.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has recently called for the criminalization of this practice, describing it as reckless and wholly unacceptable in a modern society. Officials argue that poverty cannot justify such perilous behaviour, which endangers not only those scooping but also motorists, emergency responders, and nearby communities.

The Lagos incident, though contained, serves as a stark reminder of how fragile urban safety remains in the face of tanker mishaps. It also raises pressing questions about accountability. Rarely are transport companies or drivers held responsible for negligence, and enforcement of safety standards remains weak. Without systemic change, Nigeria risks repeating these tragedies.

What is needed is a multi-pronged approach: stricter regulation of tanker operations, investment in safer transport alternatives such as pipelines and rail, and sustained public education campaigns to discourage fuel scooping.

The Lagos accident may have ended without flames, but history warns us that complacency is dangerous. Each narrowly averted calamity should be treated not as luck, but as a call to action.