Concerns Arise as Gas Tanker Explosions Claim 13 Lives, Devastate Properties in One Week

At least 13 lives have been lost, alongside the destruction of 130 vehicles and numerous properties, due to separate gas tanker explosions occurring in Rivers, Osun, and Delta States within the span of the last seven days.

The frequency of such tanker explosions has become a consistent concern across the nation, resulting in significant loss of lives and properties.

The recent spate of incidents has sparked apprehension among stakeholders, prompting calls for a more secure method of transporting petroleum products nationwide.

Last Friday, April 27, a tanker carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, erupted in flames along the East-West Road in Rivers State, incinerating both motorists and commuters. Tragically, five individuals, including a pregnant woman, lost their lives in the blaze, which engulfed over 120 vehicles.

Just a mere 12 hours later, on Saturday, April 28, another gas tanker exploded in Ita-Osin, Abeokuta, Ogun State, claiming one life and leaving several others severely injured. Suspected brake failure led to the tanker crashing into a road culvert before bursting into flames, consuming five vehicles in its wake.

The devastation continued on Friday, May 4, when a petroleum tanker explosion rocked Ometan-Okpe community along the Effurun-Sapele Road in Delta State, claiming the lives of eight individuals, including a breastfeeding mother and her three-month-old baby. Eyewitnesses recounted the horrifying scene as buildings were razed, trapping residents within.

In response to the escalating crisis, the Nigerian Governors Forum, comprising all 36 governors, announced ongoing discussions with federal agencies in the oil and gas sector to implement safer transportation methods for petroleum products nationwide. Additionally, the Federal Government has pledged to cease granting licenses to gas companies incapable of constructing pipelines for gas distribution, aiming to mitigate the risks associated with road transportation of compressed natural gas.

Retired Federal Road Safety Corps officer, Danjuma Alkali, proposed a legislative ban on night travels, citing exhaustion and inadequate rest among drivers as contributing factors to these tragedies. Alkali emphasized the necessity of discouraging night journeys, particularly for fuel tankers, to prevent accidents and promote road safety nationwide.