The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has condemned the dangerous practice of scooping fuel from fallen tanker trucks and called on the National Assembly to enact specific legislation that would criminalise the act and impose strict penalties on offenders. Issa-Onilu’s appeal followed widely shared footage and reports of people collecting fuel from a tanker that crashed at Liverpool Bridge in the Apapa area of Lagos, an incident that once again raised public safety concerns.
In a statement, the NOA boss described fuel scooping as “reckless, criminal and a grave threat to human life, public safety and national infrastructure,” stressing that the practice endangers not only those directly involved but also motorists, nearby communities and emergency responders. He said repeated sensitisation efforts and public enlightenment campaigns by his agency have failed to deter persistent participation in the practice, which has, in past incidents, precipitated explosions and large-scale loss of life.
Issa-Onilu argued that public awareness alone is insufficient and that a strong legal framework backed by explicit criminal sanctions is required to deter would-be offenders and protect Nigerians from avoidable tragedies. He called on lawmakers to prioritise the matter, saying clearly defined and deterrent penalties would reinforce ongoing campaigns and save lives that have been lost in similar accidents across the country in recent years.
