At least 60 individuals lost their lives, and numerous others sustained injuries in northern Nigeria on Saturday when a fuel tanker truck overturned, spilling its cargo, which subsequently ignited, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The tragic incident occurred in Niger state, marking the second major tanker explosion in recent months. In October, a similar disaster in Jigawa state resulted in 147 fatalities, ranking among the most devastating such events in Nigeria’s history.
Kumar Tsukwam, the FRSC sector commander for Niger state, reported that the majority of the victims were local residents who had gathered to collect the spilled gasoline after the tanker overturned. Despite efforts to disperse the crowd, the tanker exploded, engulfing another nearby tanker. Tsukwam stated, “Large crowds of people gathered to scoop fuel despite concerted efforts to stop them… So far, 60 corpses [have been] recovered from the scene.” Firefighters have since extinguished the blaze.
Such incidents have become increasingly common in Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, where many citizens face severe economic hardships. The cost of fuel has surged by over 400% since President Bola Tinubu eliminated a longstanding subsidy in May 2023, exacerbating the nation’s cost-of-living crisis.
In response to the October explosion, President Tinubu announced plans to review gasoline transport safety protocols in collaboration with state authorities, aiming to prevent future tragedies. However, the specifics of these new regulations remain unclear.
