By Taiwo Olapade
The latest update on the tanker explosion that occurred on Tuesday night in Majiya, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, shows that a Federal Government delegation led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, is on its way to pay a condolence visit to Governor Umaru Namadi and the people of the state.
During the visit, directed by President Bola Tinubu, the team will also conduct an on-the-spot assessment at the scene of the explosion to gather vital information on the remote and immediate causes of the incident.
The tanker fire claimed about 150 lives, many of whom were scooping fuel, and they have been given a mass burial. Close to 100 people suffered life-threatening injuries due to severe burns sustained from the explosion.
Eyewitnesses blamed the tragic incident, which occurred near Khadiyah University, on the driver’s attempt to dodge a speed bump while speeding. The fuel tanker suddenly overturned and spilled its contents on the road, attracting passersby and villagers who thought it was an opportunity to make a quick profit. Sadly, the rest is history.
This disaster comes just weeks after a similar incident occurred in Niger State, claiming at least 50 lives and leaving scores injured. Hours after the Jigawa tanker fire, Ibafo, a border town between Lagos and Ogun State, witnessed a similar event. While no lives were lost in Ibafo, properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.
No amount of condolence visits or support in any form will bring back the dead or heal the pain of their bereaved relatives. What could, however, bring closure to this avoidable tragedy is for authorities to enforce the appropriate laws on the movement of articulated vehicles on our roads. Strict sanctions for violators will go a long way in addressing this menace. The reckless behavior of drivers of articulated vehicles has long defied the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Lagos Road Traffic Laws.
We often attribute incidents like this to “an act of God,” as if they were destined to happen. While this belief could be debated, now is not the time. One cannot forget the notorious Ojuelegba and Otedola Bridge areas in Lagos State, which are synonymous with accidents caused by articulated vehicles. These accidents have claimed many lives, yet no one has ever been held accountable, let alone faced the consequences of the law.
The absence of consequences and sanctions for actions and misconduct is largely responsible for the state of affairs in our country. Many Nigerians willfully break the law, fully confident that nothing will happen to them, as the saying goes in local parlance.
As a matter of urgent national importance, we must consider alternatives for transporting flammable materials on our roads. On occasion, I have seen containers ferried via Lagos’ waterways and marveled at the ingenuity of their owners, who have prioritized public safety and prevented further damage to our dilapidated road networks.
We all know that the popular prayer, “May we not witness such a disaster again,” will only come true if we rise to the occasion and take the necessary actions. It feels like we’ve said this same prayer too many times. Time will tell how long we will wait to see if this “disaster” happens again.
Taiwo Olapade, Broadcast Journalist, writes from Lagos.
