The president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, confirmed that more than 80 people died and many others were injured after a fuel tanker exploded following a rollover, spilling the fuel on a busy road in Niger state (north-central).
Tinubu expressed in a statement his "deep regret" for the incident and the large number of human losses, describing the explosion as "devastating." Many residents in the Dikko area of the state were caught by the large fire while trying to collect gasoline from the overturned tanker.
The Nigerian leader highlighted the "tragic and preventable nature" of the incident and ordered comprehensive medical attention for the injured. He also instructed security and road safety agencies to implement measures to prevent similar accidents.
The explosion occurred near the Suleja area in Niger state after individuals attempted to transfer gasoline from one tanker to another using a generator. This practice caused the explosion, resulting in the deaths of both those transferring the gasoline and passersby.
Hussaini Isah from the National Emergency Management Agency reported that the transfer of fuel triggered the tragedy. In Nigeria, where there is no efficient rail system for transporting cargo, fatal truck accidents are common on the country’s major roads, the most populous in Africa.
In September, at least 48 people lost their lives in an explosion in Niger state when a gasoline tanker collided with another truck carrying livestock. According to the Federal Road Safety Corps of Nigeria, in 2020, there were 1,531 fuel tanker accidents resulting in 535 deaths and 1,142 injuries.
