The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has reported that 411 lives were lost in 2024 due to fuel scooping from fallen tankers across Nigeria.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday during the conclusion of the “Operation Zero Tolerance” special patrol campaign, FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed highlighted the dangers associated with this hazardous practice.
“Out of the total fatalities recorded in 2024, 411 deaths, representing 7.6% of the total, were not caused primarily by crashes but by the dangerous act of scooping fuel from fallen tankers,” Mr. Mohammed stated.
He emphasized that the trend poses a significant safety risk and remains a major contributor to avoidable fatalities. The recent explosion in Niger State, which claimed the lives of at least 98 people attempting to collect spilled fuel, is one of many such incidents.
While the FRSC recorded a 10% reduction in road traffic crashes in 2024, with 9,570 incidents compared to 10,617 in 2023, the number of fatalities increased by 7%. A total of 5,421 deaths were recorded, up from 5,081 in the previous year.
The corps marshal attributed the rise in fatalities to human factors such as reckless driving, overloading, and driver fatigue. He also identified Plateau, Abia, Kaduna, Kwara, and Ondo States as hotspots for major crashes, with the most devastating accident occurring in Jebba, Kwara State, where 30 people lost their lives.
Mr. Mohammed urged Nigerians to prioritize safety and avoid risky behaviors, especially involving fallen tankers. “Scooping fuel from tanker accidents is a ticking time bomb. The loss of lives is entirely preventable with greater public awareness and adherence to safety protocols,” he said.
The FRSC reiterated its commitment to enforcing road safety regulations, reducing road traffic crashes, and sensitizing the public on the dangers of unsafe practices like fuel scooping.
