A devastating tanker explosion in Enugu State has left a family of eleven from Abofia Agbaja in Ebonyi State dead, wiping out an entire household in one of the region’s most harrowing tragedies in recent memory.
The fatal incident occurred on Saturday along Ugwu Onyeama, Udi Local Government Area, when a fuel tanker burst into flames. The family was traveling in a Sienna minivan from Anambra State to Ebonyi for their patriarch’s burial. The fire, ignited by the explosion, consumed their vehicle, leaving no survivors.
“Our Entire Family Is Gone”
Mr. Ikechukwu Nwaji, the bereaved brother of the late Jeremiah Nwaji, narrated the heartbreaking loss. “We lost eleven members of the family in a situation that could have been avoided,” he lamented tearfully. Jeremiah, his wife, their six children—including a set of twins—another brother, and two house helpers were all aboard the Sienna at the time of the explosion.
“Jeremiah was our family’s breadwinner. He borrowed his friend’s Sienna to help carry the family and belongings for the burial preparations. Now, he, his wife, and the children are all gone,” Ikechukwu added.
The family had been journeying from Onitsha in Anambra State when they encountered the tragic accident. Witnesses reported that the tanker lost control and exploded, with the fire spreading rapidly to engulf nearby vehicles, including the Nwaji family’s minivan.
Call for Government Action
Ikechukwu has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to take immediate steps to regulate the movement of fuel tankers. “We urge the Federal Government to ban tankers carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and gas from operating during the day. These accidents keep happening, and they are avoidable. In advanced countries, tankers only move at night or under strict regulations,” he said.
He recounted previous tragedies involving fuel tankers and expressed frustration over the lack of consistent policy enforcement. “If something isn’t done, more lives will be lost in these needless disasters,” he added.
A Breadwinner and Community Pillar Lost
The Nwaji family’s loss extends beyond the immediate tragedy. The late Jeremiah Nwaji was not only a devoted family man but also a vital member of his community. A classmate of Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru in the 2004 set, Jeremiah was reportedly a key campaign coordinator for the governor.
Mrs. Chiamaka Onyibe, a bereaved sister and widow, highlighted how her late brother had been a lifeline for her family. “He paid my children’s school fees and relocated me and my children to the family house after I lost my husband,” she said, her voice heavy with grief.
She added, “Now, we have lost not only a father figure but our divine helper. I don’t know how we will recover from this.”
Recurring Tanker Tragedies
Saturday’s explosion is the latest in a series of fatal incidents involving fuel tankers across Nigeria. Similar accidents have claimed countless lives, prompting public outcry over the safety of transporting flammable goods on poorly maintained roads.
Experts have repeatedly called for stricter regulations and enforcement to ensure tanker drivers adhere to safety protocols. Many have also criticized the country’s aging road network and lack of emergency response systems, which exacerbate the severity of such accidents.
In a statement, a local safety advocate, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbonna, said, “These tankers are time bombs on our roads. Until the government enforces a policy mandating night-only movements, we will continue to lose lives. This is a national emergency.”.
Time for Change
This latest tragedy underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms in Nigeria’s transportation and fuel distribution policies. Despite previous promises to enforce night-only movement of tankers, the policy has often been ignored, leading to repeated loss of lives and property.
