A tragic head-on collision between a fuel tanker and a truck carrying people and cattle in the Agaie area of north-central Niger state has resulted in the deaths of at least 48 people, with 50 cattle burned alive in the fiery explosion. The director-general of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arab, confirmed the casualties and stated that search-and-rescue operations were ongoing at the accident site.
Initially, 30 bodies were recovered, but an additional 18 were found later. The deceased have been given a mass burial. The governor of Niger state, Mohammed Bago, urged residents to remain calm and emphasized the importance of road safety to prevent such tragedies.
Fatal truck accidents are not uncommon in Nigeria due to reckless driving, poor road conditions, and poorly maintained vehicles. In 2020 alone, there were 1,531 petrol tanker crashes resulting in 535 deaths and over a thousand injuries. The recent increase in petrol prices by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd has led to shortages and long queues at petrol stations across the country.
The absence of an efficient railway system for cargo transport exacerbates the reliance on trucks for logistics, increasing the risk of accidents. Experts continue to emphasize the importance of adhering to road traffic regulations to prevent further loss of life and property. The government is under pressure to address the root causes of these deadly accidents and improve road infrastructure to ensure the safety of all road users in Nigeria.
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