Nigerian farmer Mustapha Majiya is devastated after losing almost 50 relatives in a deadly fuel tanker explosion. His nephews, Nuradeen and Dini, who were 16 and 17 years old, died trying to stop people from taking petrol from the tanker before it exploded.
The blast, which happened in the northern state of Jigawa, is one of the worst tanker accidents Nigeria has seen in years.
More than 170 people lost their lives, and many of the bodies are burned beyond recognition. Around 100 others were injured, and some are still in the hospital with severe injuries.
The tanker, filled with petrol, crashed on a road with no streetlights, and when the people of Majia town saw free fuel, they rushed to collect it despite warnings.
The high cost of petrol, which has risen sharply over the last year and a half, made many desperate to stock up, ignoring the dangers.
The government and safety experts are now facing criticism. Nigeria, despite being an oil-rich country, transports fuel mostly by road, which is risky.
Safety experts, like Kola Ashiru-Balogun, say the government should invest in railways for safer transport. The BBC reports that in 2020 alone, over 1,500 fuel tanker accidents were recorded, killing hundreds. Just last month, a similar incident killed 59 people in another part of the country.
Experts also blame poorly maintained roads, untrained drivers, and badly made tanker trucks for these accidents. The explosion happened about an hour after the tanker crashed, and many who went to scoop fuel were unaware of the danger.
Nigeria’s government has responded, urging the public to stay away from accident sites involving fuel. Vice-President Kashim Shettima called for more awareness about the dangers of these incidents and launched a new road safety program.
However, safety experts, like Timothy Iwuagwu, told the BBC that while good policies are in place, the real problem is the lack of enforcement. Poorly built tankers and overloaded vehicles increase the risk of these tragic explosions.
The economic crisis in Nigeria has pushed many into poverty. Since President Bola Tinubu took office, the price of petrol has increased by more than 500%, making fuel even more valuable to desperate citizens.
The government has promised to investigate the Jigawa explosion, but history shows that prosecutions are rare, and families affected by these accidents seldom receive compensation.
Mr. Majiya, like many in Majia town, mourns the loss and hopes the government will help survivors and the community.
As reported by the BBC, this tragic event has sparked a wider call for the Nigerian government to do more to protect its citizens from preventable disasters.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3wx98dkxqo