By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has urged the National Assembly to criminalize all forms of fuel scooping from fallen tankers, as he condemned the act as dangerous, irresponsible, and condemnable.
Issa-Onilu made this call following a recent scene that occurred on Monday, 20th of January, at the Liverpool Bridge, Apapa area of Lagos State, where people were scooping fuel from a fallen tanker.
The NOA DG, who called for firm, clear, and deterrent penalties for perpetrators, stated that the practice is completely unacceptable in a modern society and poses an extreme and avoidable threat to human life, public safety, and national infrastructure.”
“The risks involved are not limited to those directly engaged in the act; the collateral danger to motorists, nearby communities, emergency responders, and critical assets is enormous and far outweighs any perceived or imagined benefit.”
He noted that the National Orientation Agency has, over the years, consistently deployed nationwide sensitization and public enlightenment campaigns to conscientize Nigerians on the dangers inherent in fuel scooping and similar high-risk behaviours.
He lamented that despite the sustained advocacy, repeated warnings, and value-reorientation efforts, some individuals have remained adamant and have continued to engage in this undesirable and life-threatening conduct.
The Director General stated unequivocally that this behaviour cannot be justified under any circumstances.
“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 that Nigeria has, in the past, recorded several tragic incidents across different parts of the country where fuel tanker accidents led to explosions and infernos after people attempted to scoop fuel, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives.
These recurring tragedies, he stressed, are painful reminders that this menace is recurrent, preventable, and must no longer be tolerated.
According to him, sustained public enlightenment must now be complemented by strong legal and enforcement frameworks to decisively end this deadly behaviour.
Issa-Onilu also urged Nigerians to collectively reject actions that repeatedly lead to mass casualties, national trauma, and avoidable loss of lives.
He reaffirmed the agency’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,”, he added.
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