The incident involved 17 vehicles in Enugu state in Nigeria
A devastating fuel tanker explosion in Nigeria’s southeastern Enugu State claimed the lives of 18 people and left 13 others injured on Saturday.
The incident at Ugwu Onyeama along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway in Udi Local Government Area happened at around 11:30am, when a tanker laden with motor spirit lost control due to brake failure while descending a hill. The truck collided with a water tanker, causing a crash that involved 17 vehicles.
In a statement, Olusegun Ogungbemide, spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), reported that 31 individuals were affected by the incident.
“Ten were rescued with varying degrees of injury, while three escaped unscathed. Unfortunately, the remaining 18 victims were burnt beyond recognition,” the statement read.
The incident follows a similar case one week ago in Nigeria’s Niger State, where a tanker carrying 60,000 liters of petrol overturned at Dikko Junction near Suleja. Ninety-eight lives were lost when the tanker exploded as residents attempted to scoop spilled fuel.
With the Enugu incident, the total number of lives lost to fuel tanker accidents in Nigeria has risen to 116 in just one week.
Since taking office in 2023, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, including the removal of a fuel subsidy, have driven fuel prices up by over 400%, intensifying food and transport costs. This economic pressure has led some Nigerians to risk their lives collecting fuel from accident scenes.
In 2020 alone, the Federal Road Safety Corps recorded 1,531 fuel tanker accidents with more than 535 fatalities.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, and ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki have urged an immediate investigation into the rising number of fuel tanker explosions in the country.
Atiku described the repeated tragedies as “heartbreaking” and called for an official inquiry into the frequent incidents.
Obi also expressed concern over the recurring explosions, emphasizing the need for proactive measures and stricter safety regulations to prevent further incidents.
