THE Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, has blamed negligence and the erosion of societal values for the tragic petrol tanker explosion that claimed 42 lives and left more than 60 others injured in Essa community, Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State.
Speaking on Channels TV today, Issa-Onilu described the incident as both “frustrating and avoidable,” revealing that the agency had earlier warned against such disasters following a similar explosion in Dikko, Niger State, earlier this year.
“It’s very frustrating, but we saw it coming,” he said. “After the Dikko explosion, the President gave us a directive to embark on a nationwide sensitisation. We worked with community and religious leaders, security agencies, and youth groups, but our findings show that sensitisation alone won’t solve this problem. People are aware of the risks but still ignore them.”
He attributed the recurring tragedies to poor leadership at the community level, stressing that the residents’ response to the overturned tanker in Essa showed a collective disregard for safety.
Issa-Onilu condemned the act of scooping fuel from accident scenes, calling it both criminal and morally wrong.
“Why go near a spillage when you know the risk involved? This behaviour reflects how much our values have eroded. The fuel is private property — taking it is theft and punishable under the law,” he stated.
He urged parents to instil better moral values in their children and encouraged community members to assist only in protecting the product rather than exploiting the situation.
“It’s beyond a fallen tanker; it’s a whole-of-society issue tied to value orientation,” he added.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the explosion, which occurred on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, happened when residents attempted to scoop petrol from a fallen tanker on the deteriorated Bida–Badeggi–Agaie Road.
NEMA reported that among the casualties were nine men, 24 women, and nine children. Emergency personnel from the police, DSS, FRSC, NSCDC, and local volunteers were deployed to the scene, with rescue operations ongoing as several people remained missing.
Community leaders have blamed the tragedy on the poor state of the road and called on both federal and state governments to begin immediate repairs to prevent further loss of lives.
A delegation led by Murtala Bagana, Special Adviser to Governor Umaru Bago on Special Duties, visited the scene and hospitals treating the victims.
Bagana confirmed that the governor had approved free and comprehensive medical treatment for all victims, with critical cases referred to the National Hospital, Gwagwalada, and the Federal Medical Centre, Bida.
Meanwhile, Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, said the Federal Government sympathised with the people of Niger State and directed NEMA to continue supporting rescue and relief efforts.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, also expressed sadness over the tragedy, lamenting that poverty continued to push citizens into life-threatening situations. “It’s heartbreaking that people must risk their lives just to survive. No one has to die simply trying to live,” Obi stated.