At least 11 people lost their lives on Saturday when a petrol tanker exploded along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. The tanker, reportedly suffering brake failure, overturned and spilled its contents, triggering a massive explosion.
Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, who visited the scene, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. He confirmed that the injured were receiving medical treatment and promised measures to prevent such incidents in the future. These include stricter enforcement of road safety regulations and repairs to the damaged section of the federal road.
“This accident is deeply unfortunate,” Mbah said, extending condolences to the victims’ families. He directed the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Sector Commander, Franklin Agbakoba, and the State Commissioner for Transport, Obi Ozor, to ensure all tankers transporting inflammable materials in the state are equipped with anti-spill locks to prevent future spills during accidents.
Agbakoba attributed the explosion to brake failure and confirmed that 11 people died at the scene, while the injured were taken to the hospital for treatment.
This tragic event is the latest in a series of tanker-related disasters across Nigeria. On January 18, 2025, at least 86 people died, and 55 were injured while scooping fuel from a fallen tanker in Niger State. Earlier in the month, a petrol tanker explosion in Delta State claimed five lives, and in October 2024, more than 170 people died in a similar incident in Jigawa State.
These accidents come amid an ongoing fuel crisis in Nigeria, where petrol prices have skyrocketed over fivefold since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu removed subsidies in May 2023. Inflation remains at an alarming 32.7%, with over 56% of Nigerians now living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.
As Nigeria grapples with its worst economic crisis in decades, fuel tanker explosions highlight the urgent need for improved road safety measures and infrastructure repairs to prevent further loss of life.
