Incessant tanker explosions have become a recurring nightmare in Nigeria, resulting in devastating losses and casualties. A petrol tanker that exploded along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, has destroyed properties worth millions of naira. The explosion occurred around 3 pm along Lead City University Road, Ibadan with business owners and car owners in the vicinity suffering significant losses.
Just 24 hours before the tanker explosion, a market fire destroyed goods and property worth millions of naira in Ibadan, further emphasizing the need for enhanced safety measures.
- Some cars and motorcycles parked along the road were razed.
- The Oyo State Fire Service and federal fire service responded promptly and managed to curtail the fire.
“The combined efforts of the state and federal fire service have helped to curtail the fire but not before properties were destroyed in the process,” said Akinyinka Akinyemi, Manager of Oyo State Fire Service.
- However, the extent of the damage is still being assessed to ascertain casualties magnitude.
Nigeria’s roads have become a killing field, with fuel tanker crashes and fires claiming thousands of lives over the past 15 years. Approximately 3,445 people have lost their lives in such incidents, highlighting the need for urgent attention to road safety and preventive measures.
On January 18, 2025, a fuel tanker exploded near Dikko Junction in Suleja, Niger State, killing over 80 people. President Bola Tinubu described the explosion as “devastating” and directed relevant authorities to provide comprehensive medical care to the injured.
- Statistics: Between January 2010 and January 2025, Nigeria witnessed over 2,500 tanker crashes, resulting in approximately 3,445 fatalities.
- Safety Concerns: The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has proposed banning trucks with 60,000-liter capacity to prevent such incidents, which had claimed 493 lives. The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria also suggests enforcing stiffer penalties to reduce the menace .
President Tinubu has set up a high-powered committee to investigate and prevent future incidents, tasking security agencies and road safety to take proactive measures