Niger State Tanker Explosion Kills At Least 70

At least 70 people were killed in a gasoline tanker explosion near the Suleja area in Niger State, Nigeria, following an illegal fuel transfer using a generator that ignited the blast. Officials from the National Emergency Management Agency have been conducting search and rescue operations. Such tragedies are not uncommon in Nigeria, where inefficient railway systems lead to frequent road transport accidents, including another deadly tanker explosion in September. The rising cost of fuel in Nigeria has driven people to risky behavior, such as scooping spilled fuel from accidents, leading to further casualties. The state governor, Mohammed Bago, expressed shock and called for adherence to safety regulations to prevent future incidents. Authorities have recorded a significant number of tanker crashes, with 1,531 incidents and 535 fatalities reported in 2020 alone.