BY Isaiah Eka
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has condemned the dangerous, irresponsible, and condemnable act of scooping fuel from a fallen tanker, as witnessed today at the Liverpool Bridge, Apapa area of Lagos State.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Bala Musa, Director Communication and Media and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Monday.
The Director General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the practice was completely unacceptable in a modern society, as it poses an extreme and avoidable threat to human life, public safety, and national infrastructure.
He called on the National Assembly to urgently initiate and enact comprehensive legislation that would expressly criminalise the act of fuel scooping from fallen tankers, and prescribe penalties to serve as deterrent to perpetrators.
“The risks involved are not limited to those directly engaged in the act; the collateral danger to motorists, nearby communities, emergency responders, and critical assets is enormous and far outweighs any perceived or imagined benefit,” Issa-Onilu said.
Issa-Onilu said that NOA over the years, had consistently deployed nationwide sensitisation and public enlightenment campaigns to conscientise Nigerians on the dangers inherent in fuel scooping and similar high-risk behaviours.
“Regrettably, despite sustained advocacy, repeated warnings, and value-reorientation efforts, some individuals have remained adamant and have continued to engage in this undesirable and life-threatening conduct,” he said.
The director general stated that the behaviour could not be justified under any circumstances.
“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,” he said.
He recalled that Nigeria in the past, had recorded several tragic incidents across different parts of the country, where fuel tanker accidents led to explosions and infernos after people attempted to scoop fuel, resulting in the loss of lives.
These recurring tragedies, he stressed, are painful reminders that this menace is recurrent, preventable, and must no longer be tolerated.
Issa-Onilu said that the trend must not be allowed to continue, stressing that Nigerians must collectively reject actions that repeatedly lead to mass casualties, national trauma, and avoidable loss of lives.
