By Gabriel Ameh
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, describing it as a grave threat to human life, public safety, and national infrastructure.
Issa-Onilu was reacting to an incident that occurred on Monday, January 20, at Liverpool Bridge in the Apapa area of Lagos State, where individuals were reportedly seen scooping fuel from a fallen tanker.
This was contained in a statement signed byb Bala Musa Director, Communication and Media
According to the statement, the NOA boss noted that the practice is completely unacceptable in a modern society and poses extreme and avoidable risks, not only to those directly involved but also to motorists, nearby communities, emergency responders, and critical public assets.
He noted that the National Orientation Agency has, over the years, implemented sustained nationwide sensitisation and public enlightenment campaigns to educate Nigerians on the dangers associated with fuel scooping and similar high-risk behaviours. However, he expressed regret that despite repeated warnings and value-reorientation efforts, some individuals continue to engage in the life-threatening act.
Issa-Onilu stated that the behaviour cannot be justified under any circumstances, stressing that poverty should not be used as an excuse. “This is not poverty. Poverty does not erase 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 several tragic incidents across the country where fuel tanker accidents resulted in explosions and infernos after people attempted to scoop fuel, leading to the loss of hundreds of lives. These incidents, he said, are painful reminders that the menace is recurring, preventable, and must no longer be tolerated.
In view of the grave danger posed by the practice, the Director-General called on the National Assembly to urgently initiate and pass comprehensive legislation to explicitly criminalise fuel scooping from fallen tankers, with clear and deterrent penalties for offenders. He emphasised that public enlightenment efforts must now be reinforced with strong legal and enforcement frameworks to decisively end the deadly practice.
Issa-Onilu urged Nigerians to collectively reject actions that repeatedly lead to mass casualties, national trauma, and avoidable loss of lives, reaffirming the Agency’s commitment to intensifying its value-reorientation and safety advocacy nationwide.
“Human life is sacred and priceless. No situation, no excuse, and no momentary gain should justify conduct that places lives in imminent danger,” he concluded.
