Poor community leadership is to blame for the Niger tanker disaster, according to Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
42 people were killed and more than 60 injured in Tuesday’s gasoline tanker explosion in Essa hamlet, Katcha Local Government Area, Niger State, according to reports.
A tanker crashed on the rundown Bida–Badeggi–Agaie Road, causing an unpleasant explosion as locals tried to collect the fuel.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, the DG called the incident “frustrating” and said it could have been prevented.
It’s really annoying, but we anticipated it. “The President gave us a marching order to conduct a nationwide sensitization after the Dikko explosion (earlier this year) in Niger State,” Issa-Onilu stated.
He claimed that among the stakeholders the agency had enlisted were youth organizations, security agencies, religious leaders, and community leaders.
According to our research, sensitization won’t be enough to address this issue. People ignore the threat even if they are aware of it.
It is the result of community-level leadership failure. Everyone in the community was affected by this specific tragedy,” he stated.
According to Issa-Onilu, the agency reviewed safety protocols with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
He clarified that in order to stop these kinds of accidents, downstream petroleum agencies were already creating new rules.
The NOA Director General denounced the practice of collecting fuel from downed tankers, calling it immoral and illegal.
He said, “It happened in Dikko recently; it shouldn’t happen again.” “Why do you go near a spillage when you know the risk involved?” he said.
He emphasized that spilled gasoline is private property and that stealing it constitutes theft, alleging that the behavior was a reflection of society’s deteriorating moral standards.
“Over the decades, our values have weakened. Asking kids why they want to take something that belongs to someone else is a good idea.
“Even that fuel is an investment of someone. Issa-Onilu stated that taking it constitutes theft and is punishable by law.
He asserts that members of the community should only help the owner salvage goods, not to profit from them.
Beyond a downed tanker, that is. It’s a social problem that is linked to value orientation,” he continued.
