Two petrol-laden tankers, Tuesday, exploded at an MRS filling station along the Numan Road, opposite the Jezco filling station near the Yola International Airport igniting a huge inferno that fire fighters were reportedly battling to contain as at press time.
And as the efforts to contain the conflagration continued, security personnel were also reported to have cordoned the area to prevent curious residents from coming into harm’s way.
According to Channels Television, the road leading into Yola, the state capital, was blocked as curious residents of the area rushed out to catch a glimpse of the inferno, ignoring the inherent dangers.
Despite the gallant efforts of fire fighters and first responders to prevent the fire from spreading, the two tankers were reported to have been completely razed. The fire fighters were said to have run out of water at a point.
Despite the spiraling cost of the commodity, and the stress by Nigerians to procure it, petrol tanker accidents and incidents have continued to gallop.
On on January 18, 2025, a fuel tanker exploded near Dikko Junction in Suleja, Niger State, killed about 148 people, severely injuring many others. On January 25, 2025, at Ugwu Onyeama in Enugu State, over 20 people were burnt alive.
Tanker explosions occurred in Nigeria at a time when petrol has become a precious commodity in Africa’s most populous country, which is suffering its worst economic crisis in a generation.
Also this, January, at least 11 persons were killed when a petrol-laden tanker exploded along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. The ill-fated tanker was said to have suffered brake failure, tumbled, and had its content spilled, erupting in an explosion.
Yet, there is no certainty that another tanker tragedy won’t occur.
The Federal Government has become so concerned about the rising incidents of petrol tanker accidents and humongous fatalities resulting from them that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the National Orientation Agency, NOA, to embark on an aggressive nationwide enlightenment campaign to educate citizens on the dangers inherent in scooping fuel from fallen tankers.