A tragic accident in the Agaie area of north-central Niger state has left at least 48 people dead after a fuel tanker collided head-on with another truck. The incident, which also involved a truck carrying cattle, resulted in a fiery explosion that claimed the lives of not only the people on board but also approximately 50 cattle that were burned alive. Search-and-rescue operations are ongoing, with emergency response teams working to recover the bodies of the victims.
The governor of Niger state, Mohammed Bago, has called for calm and advised road users to follow traffic regulations to prevent such tragedies in the future. Fatal truck accidents are unfortunately common in Nigeria, where factors like reckless driving, poor road conditions, and vehicle maintenance issues contribute to the high number of road accidents. Last year alone, there were over 1,500 petrol tanker crashes in the country, resulting in hundreds of fatalities and injuries.
The recent increase in petrol prices by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd has exacerbated the situation, leading to fuel shortages and long queues at gas stations. With an inefficient railway system for transporting cargo, trucks remain the primary mode of transportation for goods, leading to frequent accidents on major roads. The government is being urged to address these issues to prevent further loss of life on Nigerian roads.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
