Nigeria's Frequent Fuel Tanker Woes Turn Deadlier

Over 140 people lost their lives when an overturned fuel tanker exploded on Wednesday in Nigeria's Jigawa state. Some of the victims reportedly died as they tried to collect the leaking fuel. Other victims were burned as they tried to help those closest to the overturned tanker. The midnight accident occurred as the driver lost control near the remote town of Majiya. Emergency services could not reach the site promptly, reported Dr. Haruna Mairiga from the Jigawa disaster management agency. The disaster—a recurrent issue in Nigeria, where more than 1,500 tankers overturned in 2020—highlights the dangers linked to tanker fuel transport in one of Africa's leading oil-producing nations.

In response, the Nigerian government announced measures to prevent such calamities. The Federal Road Safety Corps has mandated minimum safety standards for fuel tankers that must be met before they can hit the road. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu committed to a "swift and comprehensive" overhaul of the country's fuel transportation safety protocols. The preventive initiatives aim to tackle frequent incidents that arise from poor vehicle design and safety training among drivers, as highlighted by Timothy Iwuagwu, president of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)