By Abdulahmeed Abdulrozaq Bilal | Fact Frontier.
Click here to read more about the reporter.
A video that went viral on March 22, 2026, showing residents scooping petrol from an overturned tanker along the Academy-Iwo Road Expressway in Ibadan, Oyo State, has reignited urgent conversations about a recurring hazard that has claimed hundreds of lives across Nigeria. While the immediate instinct to collect “free” fuel is understandable in times of economic hardship, the act is a perilous gamble that has repeatedly led to catastrophic explosions, mass casualties, and lifelong injuries.
The incident, confirmed by multiple news outlets including The Punch, is not an isolated event. It fits a tragic pattern that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been fighting to reverse. According to official data cited by NEMA, no fewer than 411 Nigerians lost their lives in 2024 alone due to explosions resulting from scooping fuel from fallen tankers. This figure does not account for the hundreds more who suffered severe burn injuries or lost their livelihoods in the ensuing fires.
“The act of scooping fuel from a fallen tanker is a death wish,” said a spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in a previous public advisory. “Petrol is highly volatile. A single spark from a phone, a metallic object hitting the ground, or even static electricity can ignite the vapor, turning a scene of opportunity into an inferno in seconds.” This warning is echoed by safety experts who note that even after a tanker has overturned, the risk of an explosion remains high until the product is professionally transferred by trained personnel using specialized equipment.
The danger extends beyond those directly scooping fuel. In numerous past incidents, including the devastating 2020 fire in the same Oyo State corridor, explosions have engulfed bystanders, destroyed nearby businesses, and trapped unsuspecting motorists who stopped to watch. The resulting infernos often melt asphalt and leave victims with irreversible third-degree burns. Emergency services frequently struggle to access the scene due to the crowds, delaying medical response and compounding the tragedy.
Authorities have repeatedly called for a change in public behavior and stricter legal consequences. In a statement following the latest viral incident, the Oyo State Fire Service reminded residents that “it is illegal and morally bankrupt to capitalize on a road crash to endanger lives.” They urged citizens to immediately report such incidents to emergency lines rather than joining the crowd.
Beyond the immediate physical danger, the practice creates secondary hazards. It often leads to environmental degradation, as spilled fuel contaminates soil and water sources. It also hampers the work of first responders, who must first disperse large crowds before they can safely address the risk of fire or contain the spill.
As Nigeria continues to record fuel tanker accidents—often caused by poor road conditions or driver fatigue—the collective response of the public must shift from opportunism to safety. The video from Ibadan on March 22 serves as a stark reminder: what appears to be a windfall can, in seconds, become a mass casualty event. The 411 lives lost in 2024 are not just statistics; they represent families shattered by preventable tragedies. To avoid repeating this grim history, public awareness campaigns must be intensified, and swift legal action must be taken against those who endanger themselves and others by scooping fuel.
In the words of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), “Your life is worth far more than a jerrycan of petrol.” Until this message resonates deeply enough to override the lure of perceived opportunity, the cycle of grief will likely continue.
