Firefighters attempt to control a fire at an informal diesel fuel depot in Lagos, Nigeria, on 16 February 2012. - Copyright © africanews Sunday Alamba/AP
Abuja, Nigeria — A gasoline-laden tanker truck overturned and exploded on Tuesday in the Bida area of Niger State, resulting in the deaths of at least 31 people and injuring 17 others, authorities said. According to the state police, the tanker tipped over before the explosion. Local residents rushed to collect the spilled fuel from the wreckage when the explosion occurred. In his statement, police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun confirmed the casualty figure and said the injured victims are being treated in nearby hospitals.
Niger State Gov. Umaru Bago said it was disheartening to see that people try to collect gasoline from overturned tankers despite the danger. “This is yet another painful, difficult, and tragic one for the people and the state government,” Bago said. In recent months, Niger State has seen a rise in accidents involving heavy-duty trucks, which analysts have blamed on bad roads and the absence of a rail network. The state serves as a major transit hub for commodities moving between northern and southern Nigeria.
Emergency services, including firefighters and officers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), responded quickly to contain the inferno. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that 19 bodies had been recovered initially, while others were discovered later after the flames were extinguished, bringing the death toll to 31.
Authorities say a joint investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the accident, verify the tanker’s ownership, and assess compliance with safety and transport regulations.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) reported that more than 300 people died in similar tanker-related incidents between 2023 and 2025, with major accidents recorded in Oyo, Rivers, and Lagos states. In January alone, at least 98 people were killed in Niger State when people tried to transfer gasoline from a crashed oil tanker into another truck using a generator.
According to Reuters, tanker explosions often occur when residents rush to collect spilled fuel amid surging fuel prices, worsened by the government’s removal of petrol subsidies in 2023, which pushed pump prices above ₦700 per litre (about $0.48).
Experts are urging the federal government to accelerate pipeline rehabilitation and enforce stricter monitoring of tanker operations, as well as intensify public awareness campaigns discouraging residents from approaching crash scenes.
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