Explosion of Fuel Tanker in Nigeria Leaves 86 Dead

The explosion of a fuel tanker after it overturned in Nigeria has resulted in the deaths of at least 86 people. Nigerian officials announced on Saturday, January 29, that the explosion occurred when dozens of local impoverished residents rushed to the damaged tanker to loot gasoline following its overturning. The death toll from the explosion rose to 86 on Sunday. This explosion occurred at the Diko intersection on a road between the capital and the northern city of Kaduna, and local officials report that 52 others suffered severe burns in the incident. The tanker in question contained 60,000 liters of gasoline. According to World Bank statistics, about 40% of Nigeria's 220 million population lives below the poverty line, and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) states that one-third of children under five in the country are grappling with 'severe malnutrition.' Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the country's president who took power in 2023, has significantly reduced fuel subsidies; a move that has exacerbated food inflation and increased transportation costs in the country. Last year, the inflation rate in Nigeria exceeded 32%, on par with Iran. Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed 'deep sorrow' after the incident that killed dozens in the fuel tanker explosion and emphasized the 'tragic and preventable nature' of this incident. About four months ago, more than 170 people died in a similar incident in Jigawa state in northern Nigeria. Official statistics show that by 2020, over 1,500 similar incidents had occurred, resulting in 535 deaths. This impoverished country is grappling with a range of Islamist militant groups from ISIS to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, which are proxy groups of the Islamic Republic. Nigeria is not only the most populous country in Africa but also the largest oil producer on the continent. This OPEC member produces 1.5 million barrels of oil daily, two-thirds of which is exported to foreign markets.