At least 150 people have died in Jigawa State, Nigeria, after a fuel tanker overturned and exploded. One reason for the high death toll is that people rushed to collect petrol after the flipped vehicle sprang a leak. Videos from the scene show a massive fire spreading across the area, with dozens of bodies burnt beyond recognition. President Bola Tinubu expressed his condolences to the families who lost loved ones and pledged support for those affected, promising a comprehensive review of fuel-transportation safety protocols nationwide.
Crashes involving tankers are common in Nigeria, as road transport is the most popular method of moving cargo across the country, which has inadequate rail infrastructure. Just a month ago, a similar tragedy occurred when a fuel tanker collided with another truck, resulting in 48 deaths after an explosion. Despite the dangers associated with salvaging fuel from these accidents, residents continue to risk their lives to obtain the precious ‘liquid gold.’ This latest incident comes at a time when petrol has become a valuable commodity, especially after Tinubu removed subsidies, causing gasoline prices to soar and plunging the country into a severe economic crisis.
According to the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, several hundred fuel spills occur nationwide each year. In 2020 alone, there were 1,531 petrol tanker crashes, leading to 535 deaths and injuring 1,142 people, according to Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps.
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