Oil
Safety expert calls for tanker inspections after Edo market blast
The Institution of Safety Professionals of Nigeria has urged strict port checks for fuel tankers following a destructive explosion in Benin City.
Key points
- A tanker explosion at Oluku Market in Edo State injured several people and destroyed vehicles and property.
- Timothy Iwuagwu called for mandatory safety certification and inspections of imported fuel trucks before port clearance.
- The safety leader warned the public against approaching fallen tankers to scoop spilled petroleum products.
What happened
A fuel tanker accident at Oluku Market in Benin City resulted in multiple injuries and significant property damage, according to reporting by Punch. The incident destroyed several vehicles, including two buses, an Audi saloon car, and a truck, alongside sections of the local market.
Following the blast, Timothy Iwuagwu, President of the Institution of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, highlighted severe risks associated with fuel transportation by road. He stressed that members of the public must avoid accident scenes and refrain from scooping spilled petroleum products due to the extreme danger of fatal explosions.
Why it matters
Mr Iwuagwu attributed frequent tanker disasters to structural defects, poor maintenance, inadequate regulatory oversight, and substandard road conditions. He noted that trucks should be engineered to prevent immediate leakage upon impact.
To curb these recurring incidents, the safety body urged authorities to implement mandatory mechanical checks and certification before customs clears imported haulage vehicles from ports. Furthermore, officials were advised to shift focus toward verifying actual roadworthiness rather than solely reviewing administrative documentation.
What comes next
Beyond road transport reforms, the safety expert advocated for a broader transition toward rail and pipeline infrastructure for moving petroleum products nationwide. Moving volatile materials by train would limit public exposure and reduce highway transit risks.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Crude benchmarks move budgets, currencies and inflation in producer and importer countries alike. For economies such as Nigeria, where fuels dominate exports, production and refining decisions move the whole economy.
85.9% of Nigeria’s merchandise exports were fuels in 2025Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
