VIRAL VIDEO SHOWS RESIDENTS SCOOPING FUEL FROM FALLEN TANKER IN IBADAN DESPITE RISK
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
A viral video shared by Oyo Affairs on Sunday has captured residents scooping fuel from a fallen tanker along the Academy–Iwo Road Expressway in Ibadan, raising fresh concerns over the persistence of the dangerous practice.
The footage shows individuals collecting fuel without regard for the extreme risks involved, despite repeated warnings from authorities about the deadly consequences of such actions.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), at least 411 Nigerians lost their lives in 2024 while attempting to scoop fuel from fallen tankers. The figure represents about 7.6 per cent of total road traffic deaths recorded in the year.
The FRSC Benue Sector Commander, Steve Ayodele, emphasised that fatalities are only part of the broader dangers associated with the practice, which often leads to explosions and mass casualties.
Authorities have repeatedly warned that fuel scooping remains a persistent issue across the country. In January 2026, a similar incident occurred at Liverpool Bridge in Apapa, Lagos, where residents were seen collecting diesel from an overturned tanker before emergency responders secured the area. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) subsequently issued a public advisory cautioning against such behaviour.
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, has strongly condemned the act, describing it as a major threat to public safety and national infrastructure. He called on the National Assembly to enact legislation criminalising fuel scooping, with strict penalties to deter offenders.
“I urge the National Assembly to enact legislation criminalising fuel scooping from fallen tankers, with clear, deterrent penalties for offenders,” Issa-Onilu said, stressing that public education must be reinforced with enforcement measures.
He further urged Nigerians to prioritise safety, noting that “human life is sacred and priceless” and that no temporary gain justifies actions that could lead to preventable loss of life.
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