Fury of fuel tankers: Nigeria loses humans, properties yearly

Emeka Ibemere

Nigerians on yearly basis are falling victims of reckless driving culture of heavy duty fuel truck drivers, popularly known as fuel tankers. No day passes by without one tragedy or the other caused by these drive-and-

drunk- drivers (DDD).

This month’s tragedy in both Onitsha, commercial capital of Anambra State and in Lagos State, the nerve centre of business in Nigeria, are worrisome as it calls for urgent action from the traffic authorities to move into action and safe the lives of poor Nigerians.

It’s very ironical that it’s taking place when there was acute fuel scarcity in the world six largest and Africa's biggest crude oil producer. The two tragic scenes cause over 155 lives including billions of properties that were also destroyed in the avoidable inferno. 

In Lagos State, Iyana-Ipaja Bridge axis, the devil defied the heavy down pour of Tuesday June 3, to inflict pains on the residents of the area. The tragedy claimed property worth millions of naira as a tanker laden with 33,000 litres of petrol fell off Iyana-Ipaja Bridge, resulting in an explosion which triggered a fire that raged for about 10 hours.

It was gathered that the properties razed down included a popular recording company, Remi Odus; electrical cables, three buildings, 44 shops, six tricycles and 22 vehicles, among others.

Eyewitness account said the incident occurred around 2a.m., when a tanker, which was conveying petroleum from Agege end of the road, lost control and fell off the bridge at Iyana-Ipaja, spilling its contents which spread to five other adjoining streets on the axis. The affected areas included Adebayo, Jafojo, Oremeji, Abule Oki, Ipaja Road and Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. Investigation claimed that fatigue which led to the driver falling to sleep caused the tragedy. Another witness said brake failure caused the fall of the tanker. Newly sworn-in governor of the state, Akinwumi Ambode, has since visited the scene of the inferno, pledging to look into the situation.

It was gathered that the both the tanker driver and his conductor escaped unhurt, while 14 others sustained minor injuries and were treated and discharged by medics of the Lagos State Ambulance Services, LASAMBUS. However, it was an opportunity for the street urchins to loot several shops, carting away valuables. But the arrival of law enforcement agents restored order in the area.

Traders along the busy area decried the lost of their wares. Many of them had their wares stocked in their shops when the incident occurred.  Some of the traders were seen lamenting and crying profusely as they count their losses.

Director, Lagos State Fire Services, Mr. Fadipe, and South West Information Officer, National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, who were also at the scene of the incident, said no life, was lost, but Fadipe said 14 people sustained minor injuries and had been treated.

As that wasn’t enough, another tragedy was averted at Magbon, Badagry, when another tanker laden with 33, 000 litres of petrol was reportedly collided with a truck, spilling its content on the road. The incident which occurred overnight was jointly handled by the state fire services and other stakeholders.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, who visited the scene of the accident promised to compensate those who lost property and assist them get back to their normal businesses soonest.

The governor, who inspected the affected areas, was accompanied by the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, and the permanent secretaries of the Ministries of Special Duties, Dr Aderemi Desalu, and Home Affairs, Mrs. Grace Oladimeji.

The governor assured that as soon as he receives the report of the accident, his administration would within the next 48 hours do something positive to ensure that life returns to normal for victims.

He said: “As at 1a.m. this morning, a tanker loaded with 33,000 litres of petrol fell from Ipaja Bridge and spilled all its contents within the environs of Ipaja, covering almost five streets here. In the last four hours, all our emergency agencies have been effectively on ground and we have been able to manage and control consequences of what 33,000 litres of petrol would have done to this neighbourhood”, he added.

“We would ensure that all those who have lost properties and their shops are compensated; we would quickly find a way to help them get back to their normal business lives. I will receive the report of the fire incident in the next 48 hours and we would ensure that we do something positively to ensure that lives can return to normal.”

According to the governor, all the emergency agencies have reported that everything has been put under control, adding that two other similar incidents were recorded in Badagry and Ojo town overnight.

While thanking God that no life was lost, Ambode said the incidents have shown more reasons why tanker drivers must re-examine their operations because, according to him, the state government cannot afford to continue losing precious lives and properties to indiscipline on the part of tanker drivers.

“It would also mean that our tanker drivers have to start to do something about their operations. We cannot continue to record losses of lives and properties because our tanker drivers are not disciplined”, the governor said.

The Executive Secretary of Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area, Famoyiran, commended the governor, the state Police Commissioner and the emergency agencies for their timely intervention which he said saved the community from serious damage.

If lives weren’t lost in the Lagos tragedy, it’s not the same in the Onitsha black Sunday of June 31, 2015. In Onitsha, no fewer than 250, people were allegedly reported to have lost their lives.  Traders, church worshipers, travellers, passers-by, commuters and other road users were killed in Onitsha, Anambra State, and South-East Nigeria.

Many of them were reported to have been roasted alive, while other escaped with burnt bodies when a fuel tanker crashed into a busy bus park in Onitsha and exploded. More than 13 vehicles were also incinerated.

"Most people were burned beyond recognition”, said Emeka Kachi, vice-president of the Onitsha Red Cross Society.

 "We are transferring the corpses to a teaching hospital for DNA testing so that their relatives can identify them for a proper burial."

According to the Anambra police spokesman, the tanker was speeding before it veered off the road and lost control before ramming itself at the motor park.

Anambra State Fire fighters’ were seen dousing the blaze with foam from across the highway. Nearby homes were being evacuated as a precaution, and traffic is being diverted from the area.

Authorities say the driver was able to get out of the vehicle. It is not clear what caused the truck to overturn.

It would be recalled that on 12 July 2012, when the Okobie road tanker explosion occurred, the tanker fell into a ditch, spilled its petrol contents, and subsequently exploded.

It was reported that the tanker attempted to avoid a collision with two cars and a bus and in the process, veered into a ditch, and spilled fuel. Hundreds of locals rushed to the scene to take some of the spilled petrol.

About 40 minutes after the accident, the tanker exploded. The death toll was initially placed at 95, including 93 people, who perished instantly and two, who later died after being taken to hospital.

The death toll was later revised to 121 after more bodies were recovered from neighbouring villages where they had been taken by their relatives. The number of injured was at least 75, although the actual number was likely higher as some were treated by relatives or at private clinics. Some 34 motorcycle taxis were destroyed. The drivers of the motorcycles, known as Okada in Nigeria, came to scoop up spilled fuel for their vehicles after learning of the accident and became victims of the explosion. In April 2011 about 50 people were killed in the similar incident. It was reported that a petrol tanker crashed, caught fire and exploded, killing more than 100 people who had rushed to the scene to scoop up fuel that had spilled. The incident took place in Rivers State.

Following the recent incidents, stakeholders have called for more advance way of moving fuel within Nigeria. According to them, there is need for Nigeria to put their refineries and rail systems in order, to avoid the unnecessary carnages on the Nigerian roads rather than the crude movement of tankers in broad day lights causing pains and deaths.