By Nkechi Eze
The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has condemned in the strongest terms the dangerous and irresponsible practice of scooping fuel from fallen tankers, following a disturbing incident witnessed on Monday, January 20, at the Liverpool Bridge in the Apapa area of Lagos State.
In a statement signed by the Director of Communication and Media, Bala Musa, the NOA boss described fuel scooping as a reckless act that poses an extreme and avoidable threat to human life, public safety and national infrastructure. He warned that the danger goes far beyond those directly involved, extending to motorists, nearby communities, emergency responders and critical public assets.
Issa-Onilu stressed that the practice is completely unacceptable in a modern society, noting that the enormous risks far outweigh any perceived or imagined benefit. He recalled that the Agency has, over the years, deployed sustained nationwide sensitisation and public enlightenment campaigns to educate Nigerians on the dangers inherent in fuel scooping and similar high-risk behaviour. However, he expressed regret that despite repeated warnings and value-reorientation efforts, some individuals have continued to engage in what he described as a life-threatening and undesirable conduct.
The Director General was unequivocal in rejecting attempts to justify the act. “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,” he said.
He recalled several tragic incidents recorded across the country where fuel tanker accidents escalated into explosions and infernos after people attempted to scoop fuel, leading to the loss of hundreds of lives. According to him, these recurring tragedies are painful reminders that the menace is recurrent, preventable and must no longer be tolerated.
Against this backdrop, Issa-Onilu called on the National Assembly to urgently initiate and enact comprehensive legislation to expressly criminalise fuel scooping from fallen tankers and prescribe clear, firm and deterrent penalties for offenders. He emphasised that sustained public enlightenment must now be backed by strong legal and enforcement frameworks to decisively end the deadly practice.
He urged Nigerians to collectively reject actions that repeatedly result in mass casualties, national trauma and avoidable loss of lives, while reaffirming the NOA’s commitment to intensifying its value-reorientation and safety advocacy across the country.
“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.
