By HeapNews
No fewer than 555 people have lost their lives in petrol tanker explosions across Nigeria between January 2020 and January 2025, according to data from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).
The Anambra State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mrs. Joyce Alexander, disclosed this on Thursday in Awka during a town hall meeting on tanker and trailer safety challenges in Nigeria.
Alexander revealed that the 80 reported tanker crashes during this period also left hundreds injured and destroyed vehicles, buildings, and other properties worth millions of naira.
“In 2020, we recorded 18 tanker explosions leading to 161 deaths. In 2021, 19 tanker explosions claimed 55 lives, while in 2022, 14 explosions resulted in 76 fatalities. In 2023, 13 tanker explosions caused 118 deaths, and in 2024, another 13 explosions killed 85 people. Alarmingly, in just January 2025, we have already seen seven tanker explosions,” she said.
She warned that more than 2,000 petroleum trucks operate daily on Nigerian roads, and safety negligence has dire consequences.
“The most horrifying aspect of this menace is the scooping of fuel by citizens when tanker crashes or spillages occur. This exacerbates casualties when fires break out,” Alexander noted.
The FRSC commander revealed that Anambra State alone recorded four trailer-related crashes in three months, resulting in 24 deaths and multiple injuries.
“These are avoidable crashes and casualties. This town hall meeting is to help us strategize ways to curb these incidents and save lives,” she said.
To improve road safety, Alexander emphasized the need for mandatory installation of speed limiters in haulage vehicles, proper vehicle maintenance, and continuous training for tanker drivers.
“We recommend valid vehicle registration, proper driver licensing, and stiffer sanctions on operators whose tankers are involved in crashes,” she added.
She also called for the establishment of rest areas in Anambra State to reduce driver fatigue and urged security agencies to remove traffic checkpoints on roads used by articulated vehicles.
However, SCP Uche Noah, the Divisional Police Officer of B-Division, Awka, disagreed with the call for checkpoint removal.
“Checkpoints cannot be removed due to security concerns,” he stated.
Meanwhile, some tanker drivers and transport unions cited economic hardship, excessive police checkpoints, and actions of the Anambra State Road Traffic Management Agency as major challenges affecting tanker operators.
They also identified impatience, poverty, and substance abuse among drivers as contributing factors to the frequent crashes.