At least 70 people were killed when a fuel tanker exploded in central Nigeria on Saturday while trying to collect spilled fuel. The tragedy occurred around 10:00 am local time at the Dikko junction, a key road connecting the federal capital Abuja with the northern city of Kaduna.
The head of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Niger State, Kumar Tsukwam, confirmed the death toll, adding that most were burnt beyond recognition. It is reported that a tanker carrying 60,000 liters of gasoline overturned and caught fire after a huge crowd converged on the scene to collect the leaking fuel, causing a devastating explosion.
An FRSC statement explained that the fire also engulfed another nearby tanker. “So far, 60 bodies have been recovered, mainly those of scavengers,” the statement noted. Emergency responders are still at the scene to manage the aftermath of the explosion.
This is a reminder of the continuing economic misery in Nigeria, where fuel prices have increased after the government last year abolished a subsidy on its sale. President Bola Tinubu abolished the subsidy shortly after he was elected and this had resulted in fuel prices increasing fivefold over 18 months, with protests spreading and desperate people risking everything.
Niger State Governor Umaru Bago said he was deeply saddened by the incident, which he described as “worrisome, heartbreaking, and unfortunate.” He also said an unspecified number of people suffered different levels of burns.
This is the second such tragedy in the country this year. In October, more than 170 people were killed in Jigawa State. The FRSC said 1,531 fuel tanker accidents occurred in Nigeria in 2020, with more than 535 deaths.
The recurring nature of these accidents underscores the urgent need for stricter safety measures and economic reforms to prevent such loss of life.
