The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has strongly condemned the dangerous and irresponsible act of scooping fuel from a fallen tanker, witnessed on Monday, January 20, at Liverpool Bridge in the Apapa area of Lagos State.
Issa-Onilu described the practice as “completely unacceptable in a modern society,” highlighting that it poses extreme and avoidable threats to human life, public safety, and national infrastructure. He noted that the risks extend beyond those directly involved, affecting motorists, nearby communities, emergency responders, and critical assets.
The NOA DG recalled that the Agency has long carried out nationwide sensitisation and public enlightenment campaigns to warn Nigerians about the dangers of fuel scooping and other high-risk behaviours. Unfortunately, he said, some individuals continue to engage in the life-threatening practice despite repeated warnings and value-reorientation efforts.
“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,” Issa-Onilu said.
He reminded the public that Nigeria has suffered numerous tragic incidents where fuel tanker accidents led to explosions after people attempted to scoop fuel, resulting in hundreds of fatalities. These recurring tragedies, he stressed, are preventable and must no longer be tolerated.
In light of the danger, Issa-Onilu called on the National Assembly to urgently introduce and pass comprehensive legislation that would explicitly criminalise fuel scooping from fallen tankers and prescribe firm, deterrent penalties for offenders. He stressed that sustained public education must be complemented by strong legal and enforcement frameworks to end this deadly behaviour.
“Human life is sacred and priceless. No situation, no excuse, and no momentary gain should justify conduct that places lives in imminent danger,” the Director General concluded, reaffirming NOA’s commitment to intensifying safety advocacy and value-reorientation across the country.
