Badamasi Bello, Jadetimes Staff
B. Bello is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Nigerian News
Agaie, Niger State – The explosion of a fuel tanker has again occurred in the State of Niger, North-Central of Nigeria, the latest of such a series of sad occurrences involving fuel-laden vehicles. The explosion happened on Tuesday evening at Kusogbogi, a boundary area between Agaie and Lapai Local Government Areas.
The disaster, according to eyewitnesses, occurred at about 6 pm when the tanker, in trying to overtake another truck, lost control and overturned, bursting into flames. Fortunately, no life was lost in this particular accident.
The resident of the town, Mallam Mahmud Abubakar, declared that this is not the first time the incident has happened. He said another tanker exploded the same spot last week after ramming into a stationary truck, engulfing both in fire. So far, all calls regarding safety on the roads are raising red flags regarding recurrence.
A Pattern of Tragedy
This incident comes after the very sad explosion that occurred at Dikko, Gurara LGA, where at least 98 people lost their lives and many others were injured. That tragedy had occurred when residents gathered to collect spilled fuel from a fallen tanker, oblivious to the danger lurking over them. The spilled fuel had suddenly gone into flames, causing the massive explosion.
On account of this explosion, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the transfer of 20 victims with grievous injuries to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital for advanced medical treatment to show that the government was concerned about those affected by such disasters.
Root Causes and Concerns
Observers attribute the frequent fuel tanker accidents to overspeeding, poor road conditions, reckless driving, and laxity in regulation of the transport sector. This incident, according to the police, was due to over-speeding and loss of control, while the previous week's one was due to recklessness in parking along busy highways.
The Need for Action
These repeating tragedies have provoked broad demands for urgent reforms-the tight regulation of the transport of petroleum products, improvement in roads, and effective training of drivers to avoid accidents.
Other leaders called for more sensitization in public awareness of the risks of tampering with spilled fuel, which usually leads to unnecessary loss of life.
As the trend of fuel tanker explosions in Nigeria goes up, actions cannot be expressed with words. Several lives, properties, and livelihoods are on the line; only a systemic approach by government, transport operators, and the public can bring this cycle of tragedies to an end.
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