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At least 11 people lost their lives in a catastrophic explosion involving a petrol tanker on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway this past Saturday. The incident has sparked discussions about road safety and the handling of hazardous materials in high-traffic areas, especially with the frequency of the occurrence.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene, but the intensity of the blaze made rescue efforts challenging. The tragedy has reignited concerns over the safety of transporting hazardous materials on Nigeria’s congested highways.
According to preliminary reports, the tanker suffered brake failure, leading to a catastrophic chain of events. The vehicle tumbled, spilling its petrol load, which then ignited and erupted into a devastating explosion.
Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, visited the scene of the tragic accident and expressed his heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families. He emphasized that the injured were receiving medical care and outlined a series of actions to prevent similar incidents in the future. These include rigorous enforcement of traffic regulations and immediate repairs to the damaged sections of the federal road.
Describing the accident as deeply unfortunate, Governor Peter Mbah extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and injured victims. He also directed the Federal Road Safety Commission’s Sector Commander in the state, Franklin Agbakoba, and the State Commissioner for Transport, Obi Ozor, to ensure that all tankers transporting flammable substances within Enugu State are equipped with anti-spill locks. These devices are designed to prevent spills in the event of an accident, thereby reducing the risk of similar tragedies in the future.
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“Investigation is still at the preliminary stage. The police and other law enforcement agencies are on it. We want to get to the root of this for us to understand the true cause of the accident,” he said.
While briefing the governor on some of the preliminary investigations conducted by the FRSC Sector Commander for Enugu explained that the tanker spill was as a result of a brakes failure by the fuel tanker.
He added that 11 persons lost their lives at the scene, while identified injured road users were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
At least 86 persons died and 55 others were injured on Saturday, January 18, 2025, whilst scooping fuel from a fallen tanker in Niger State.
Earlier in January 2025, at least five persons were killed when a tanker ladened with petrol lost control and burst into flames in the Agbor area of Delta State.
In October 2024, a fuel tanker explosion in Jigawa State killed more than 170 people, with scores injured.
Tanker explosions occurred in Nigeria at a time when petrol has become a precious commodity in Africa’s most populous country, which is suffering its worst economic crisis in a generation.