The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of 35 lives in a fuel tanker explosion that occurred along the Bida–Lapai route, after Badegi, on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
The victims were reportedly scooping fuel from a crashed tanker when the explosion occurred.
According to a statement by the FRSC Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, the tanker, laden with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), lost control around 12:15 p.m. due to the poor condition of the road and overturned.
Shortly after the crash, residents trooped to the scene to collect fuel from the leaking tanker before it suddenly ignited, resulting in a massive inferno.
The fire claimed 35 lives and left 46 others with varying degrees of burns and injuries.
Properties worth millions of naira were also destroyed.
FRSC rescue teams, led by the Unit Head of Operations, responded swiftly in collaboration with the Niger State Fire Service, Bida Division, to contain the fire and evacuate victims to nearby hospitals for emergency care.
Commiserating with the victims’ families, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, described the incident as “a needless national tragedy born out of ignorance, greed, and disregard for safety warnings.”
He warned Nigerians against scooping fuel from fallen tankers, stressing that such acts are extremely dangerous.
“This is not just a crash; it is a painful reminder that every time people ignore safety advice and rush to scoop petrol, they gamble with their lives. No litre of fuel is worth a human life,” he stated.
Mohammed further directed all FRSC formations nationwide to intensify community-based sensitisation, particularly in rural and high-risk areas, to discourage residents from approaching or tampering with fuel-laden crash sites.
He called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, and local authorities to collaborate with the Corps in educating communities on the deadly consequences of such actions.
The Corps Marshal also reminded the public that most high-fatality crashes recorded in 2024 resulted from fuel scooping rather than the primary crashes themselves.
The FRSC appealed to motorists and residents to report any crash involving tankers or other hazardous materials immediately via the FRSC toll-free emergency number 122, instead of taking reckless actions that often lead to avoidable loss of lives.
“The Corps remains committed to ensuring safer road environments and preventing tragedies of this nature through sustained public enlightenment, enforcement, and collaboration with relevant stakeholders,” the statement added.
Reporting by Olusegun Ogungbemide, mni, FISPON, aniprAssistant Corps Marshal / Corps Public Education OfficerFederal Road Safety Corps Headquarters, Abuja