EXPERT RAISES FUEL TANKER SAFETY CONCERNS FOLLOWING TRAGIC EXPLOSION AT OLUKU MARKET IN EDO STATE

Safety advocate calls for stricter regulatory enforcement, mandatory vehicle roadworthiness inspections, and urgent public awareness campaigns to prevent recurring petroleum tanker disasters across major transit corridors

A safety expert has raised grave concerns regarding petroleum transportation standards and emergency response protocols in Nigeria following a devastating fuel tanker explosion at Oluku Market along the Benin-Lagos Expressway in Edo State.

The disaster occurred when a petrol-laden tanker overturned and erupted into flames, razing dozens of market stalls, destroying multiple vehicles, and leaving several individuals hospitalized with severe burn injuries.

Evaluating the incident, industry safety consultants emphasized that recurring tanker infernos across national highway networks underscore systemic failures in haulage regulation, vehicle maintenance standards, and driver training compliance.

The expert urged the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and state traffic management agencies to strictly enforce safety valves and tracking mechanisms on bulk liquid haulage vehicles.

Highlighting the dangerous practice of fuel scooping by bystanders during tanker spills, safety advocates called for immediate, coordinated security cordons at accident scenes alongside continuous public education programs on the lethal risks of petroleum fires.

Stakeholders reiterated that preventing similar tragedies requires mandatory enforcement of anti-spill technical standards, strict vehicle roadworthiness certifications, and routine monitoring of heavy-duty trucks traversing high-density urban markets.