By Mercy Peter
The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has strongly condemned the dangerous and irresponsible practice of scooping fuel from fallen tankers.
Issa-Onilu said in a statement that it is a reckless act that poses grave risks to human life, public safety, and national infrastructure.
Issa-Onilu’s condemnation followed an incident that occurred on Monday at the Liverpool Bridge in the Apapa area of Lagos State, where members of the public were seen scooping fuel from a fallen tanker.
He described the act as completely unacceptable in a modern society, warning that it presents an extreme and avoidable danger not only to those directly involved, but also to motorists, nearby communities, emergency responders, and critical public assets.
According to the NOA Director General, the collateral risks associated with fuel scooping far outweigh any perceived or imagined benefits.
He stressed that such actions often trigger devastating explosions and fires, with catastrophic consequences that extend well beyond the immediate scene.
Issa-Onilu noted that the National Orientation Agency has, over the years, implemented sustained nationwide sensitisation and public enlightenment campaigns to educate Nigerians on the dangers of fuel scooping and other high-risk behaviours.
Despite consistent advocacy, repeated warnings, and extensive value-reorientation efforts, he lamented that some individuals have continued to engage in the life-threatening practice.
He stated unequivocally that the behaviour cannot be justified under any circumstance, dismissing attempts to attribute it to economic hardship.
“This is not poverty. Poverty does not take away the sense in people’s heads, nor does it eliminate judgement or the instinct for self-preservation. What we are witnessing is a conscious, reckless, and criminal disregard for human life and public safety,” Issa-Onilu.
The NOA boss pointed out that Nigeria has recorded numerous fatal incidents in which fuel tanker accidents escalated into massive explosions after people attempted to scoop fuel.
He said, have led to the loss of hundreds of lives across different parts of the country, leaving deep national trauma. According to him, the recurring nature of these tragedies clearly shows that the menace is preventable and must no longer be tolerated.
Issa-Onilu called on the National Assembly to urgently initiate and pass comprehensive legislation that will expressly criminalise the act of scooping fuel from fallen tankers.
He urged lawmakers to prescribe clear, firm, and deterrent penalties for offenders, stressing that sustained public enlightenment efforts must now be reinforced with robust legal and enforcement frameworks to put an end to the deadly practice.
The Director General emphasised that Nigerians must collectively reject behaviours that repeatedly result in avoidable loss of lives, mass casualties, and national grief.
He reaffirmed the NOA’s commitment to intensifying its value-reorientation programmes and safety advocacy campaigns across the country.
“Human life is sacred and priceless. No situation, no excuse, and no momentary gain should justify conduct that places lives in imminent danger,” Issa-Onilu concluded.
