Residents of Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State were thrown into panic in the early hours of Sunday after a petrol-laden tanker overturned on the Lambata-Lapai-Agaie Road, spilling its contents across the highway.
The incident occurred at Takalafiya village, about 2km from Lapai town, when the truck, reportedly transporting fuel from Lagos to Kano, lost balance and fell.
According to Daily Trust, eyewitnesses said the crash caused temporary gridlock and raised fears of an explosion among residents before emergency teams arrived.
A resident of Lapai town, Mallam Mahmud Abubakar, told Daily Trust that the road where the accident happened was part of an NNPCL intervention project recently reconstructed, but already showing signs of deterioration.
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“The spot where the tanker fell was repaired not long ago under the ongoing NNPCL project, but the road has started breaking down again,” Abubakar said.
He called on the government to ensure proper supervision of the roadwork, warning that poor construction quality could lead to further accidents.
Another eyewitness, Mohammed Hassan Sonmaji, said a major tragedy was averted through the quick intervention of emergency responders, including the fire service unit of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBUL) and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
“The fire service from IBBUL arrived quickly, along with NSCDC officers, and they helped to prevent a fire outbreak,” he explained.
He added that members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Lapai Chapter, also mobilised to the site to help manage the situation.
Sources confirmed that spilt fuel was recovered into drums by emergency personnel to prevent wastage and reduce the risk of fire.
When contacted, the Director of Information and Special Duties at the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Dr Ibrahim Audu Hussaini, confirmed the incident but assured residents that there was no cause for alarm.
“The truck did not explode. Firefighting trucks from Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University are still on standby at the scene, and security personnel have been mobilised to guard the area,” Hussaini said.
Residents have appealed to the Niger State Government and relevant federal agencies to ensure regular road maintenance and stricter monitoring of heavy-duty trucks to prevent future accidents.
Naija News reports that the latest incident comes amid concerns about the rising number of fuel tanker crashes on major highways across northern Nigeria, often linked to poor roads, fatigue, and poor vehicle maintenance.
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