Fuel tanker explosion kills 86 in Nigeria

A devastating fuel tanker explosion in central Nigeria has claimed 86 lives, according to the Niger state's emergency management agency spokesman Ibrahim Audu Husseini. The incident occurred when a truck carrying 60,000 litres of gasoline overturned at Dikko junction on the road connecting Abuja to Kaduna.

The tragedy unfolded when local residents rushed to collect fuel from the overturned tanker, leading to a catastrophic explosion. Beyond the fatalities, 52 people suffered severe burns. Emergency services spent 14 hours burying the victims in a mass grave, with workers having to dig manually due to the unavailability of excavators.

This incident highlights an ongoing crisis in Nigeria, where similar accidents have become tragically common. In October, a comparable incident in Jigawa State resulted in over 170 deaths. Statistics from the Federal Road Safety Corps recorded 1,531 fuel tanker accidents claiming 535 lives in 2020 alone.

The disaster occurs against the backdrop of Nigeria's current economic crisis. Since President Bola Tinubu's administration abolished fuel subsidies in 2023, fuel prices have surged by more than 400% over the past 18 months, pushing millions into poverty and driving desperate behavior.

Responding to the tragedy, President Tinubu expressed deep sorrow and acknowledged the preventable nature of the incident. He has ordered a national campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of collecting fuel from fallen tankers.

The recurring nature of these incidents has been attributed to various factors, including poor road conditions, badly maintained vehicles, and economic hardship forcing people to take dangerous risks. While the government maintains its economic policies aim to strengthen the country's economy, the immediate human cost continues to mount.