The explosion of a tanker in northern Nigeria left more than 140 dead, Nura Abdullahi, spokesperson for the national relief agency, announced on Wednesday, October 16, specifying that “The number of victims could still increase.” An initial report indicated 94 dead and around fifty injured.
Many victims were trying to recover fuel spilled on the road after a tanker truck accident on Tuesday afternoon in Jigawa state, police spokesperson Lawan Shiisu told Agence France-Presse Adam. According to this spokesperson, the tanker diverted to avoid colliding with a truck in the town of Majia.
After the accident, neighbors gathered around the vehicle to collect the fuel that had spilled on the road and shoulders. Police who tried to dissuade them were rejected by the crowd, he said. The Nigerian Medical Association has asked doctors to urgently visit health centers to cope with the influx of patients.
Human losses and environmental damage
Last September, an explosion caused by a collision between a tanker and a truck carrying passengers and livestock left at least 59 dead in Niger state, according to authorities in this country where accidents on poorly maintained roads are common. usual. In addition to human and material losses, this type of accident causes environmental damage due to gasoline leaks.
The price of gasoline has increased five-fold since the end of fuel subsidies decided last year by President Bola Tinubu. Last week, the price of gasoline at the pump rose again, a month after already experiencing a sharp increase.
In Lagos, the economic capital of the country, the filling stations of NNPC – the national oil company – displayed the liter of PMS (“Premium driving spirit”fuel) to 998 naira (0.56 euros), compared to 855 naira the day before, an increase of 17%.
By early September, the NNPC had already increased prices by 45%, taking a liter of petrol from approximately 610 naira to 855. Before the end of fuel subsidies, which cost the government billions of dollars a year, oil was sold for less than 200 naira. naira per litre.
