At least 70 die in explosion in Nigeria while collecting fuel from overturned tanker

 

On January 19, 2025, a quiet Saturday afternoon in north-central Nigeria turned into a horrifying scene of loss and devastation. An overturned gasoline tanker, economic desperation, and infrastructural neglect tragically combined to create an explosion that claimed at least 70 lives. This catastrophe, though heartbreaking, is more than a singular incident; it underscores deep-rooted systemic problems that continue to plague Nigeria.

When the tanker overturned, locals rushed to collect the spilled fuel, a desperate yet familiar activity in a country where soaring fuel prices push many toward risky behaviors. According to Abdulazeez, a resident who witnessed the event, a spark from a generator used to transfer fuel ignited the explosion just as the final drops were being scooped. “They had just finished when everything went up in flames,” he shared somberly. What followed was a devastating inferno, burning many victims beyond recognition—a chilling reality confirmed by Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Unfortunately, this incident is part of an unsettling trend in Nigeria. A similar event in Jigawa State just months earlier, in October 2024, claimed over 170 lives. These recurring disasters highlight systemic issues that have yet to be adequately addressed, exposing a dangerous intersection of economic hardship, infrastructural deficiencies, and public safety failures.

The roots of this tragedy trace back to economic struggles brought about by the removal of Nigeria’s long-standing fuel subsidy in May 2023 under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. While the policy aimed to address fiscal imbalances in the national economy, the unintended consequences were severe. Fuel prices surged by over 400%, leaving many citizens struggling to adapt. This economic pressure has driven people to take perilous risks, such as scavenging spilled fuel from accidents.

Adding to the problem is Nigeria’s poor transport infrastructure. With an inadequate railway network, most goods—including hazardous materials like gasoline—are transported by road. This overreliance on tankers creates an overstressed road system, often leading to accidents with tragic outcomes. The lack of safety regulations and emergency preparedness for such disasters compounds the problem, leaving vulnerable communities to bear the brunt of the fallout.

These fuel tanker explosions have become an all-too-common catastrophe in Nigeria, reflecting the urgent need for systemic change. Safety measures for transporting hazardous materials must be reevaluated and strictly enforced. Beyond policy, there is a pressing need for public education to increase awareness about the dangers of siphoning fuel. Communities must be informed about the life-threatening risks they face when engaging in these activities—borne out of desperation but fraught with fatal outcomes.

Moreover, Nigeria must prioritize developing its rail infrastructure to reduce dependence on road transport for moving dangerous cargo. A modern and efficient railway system could safely handle high-risk materials while alleviating roadway pressure. Policymakers must treat these railways not just as economic investments but as life-saving infrastructure that reduces the likelihood of accidents like we saw in January.

Public tragedy cannot merely be met with words. For affected families, the lives lost in the explosion—nearly all of whom were locals—leave empty spaces that no policy can fill. But if the country can respond with actionable change, their suffering might be a turning point. Offering targeted aid to victims’ families and communities could also help mitigate the immediate aftermath and prevent further cycles of despair.

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