At least 11 people lost their lives on Saturday after a petrol-laden tanker exploded along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. The tragedy occurred when the tanker, reportedly suffering brake failure, tumbled and spilled its contents, igniting a massive explosion.
Governor Peter Mbah, during an on-the-spot assessment, expressed deep sadness over the incident, promising swift action to prevent such occurrences in the future. He disclosed that the injured victims are receiving medical care and announced plans to enforce stricter road regulations and fix the federal road’s dilapidated sections.
Describing the accident as avoidable, the governor instructed the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the state’s transport commissioner to ensure that all tankers transporting inflammable materials within Enugu are equipped with anti-spill locks to mitigate such disasters.
FRSC Sector Commander Franklin Agbakoba confirmed that the tanker spill resulted from brake failure, adding that 11 lives were lost on the spot while injured victims were rushed to the hospital.
This tragedy adds to the growing list of tanker explosions across Nigeria, often linked to the country’s deepening fuel crisis. In January 2025 alone, a similar explosion in Niger State killed 86 people, and earlier incidents in Delta and Jigawa states claimed several lives.
With the price of petrol skyrocketing over fivefold since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tenure began in May 2023, such incidents have become increasingly deadly as fuel scarcity drives desperate measures.
