After losing a friend to a fuel explosion, every re-occurence of this brings an ugly nostalgia.
It was on a fateful day 3pm daylight I went for my fashion training class as usual and on my way back home I got a call from my sister to return and find shelter somewhere else. The news was that a fuel tanker was double-crossed by a bike man on our narrow road that was under construction, the road has become narrower since construction was in place to make it wider and become double lane contrary to the single lane it used to be, it became too narrow for the tanker to navigate and hence it tumbles over and started spilling its content. The driver was already pinned upside down with 5 others in the tanker.
Our house was only a few meters a way from the main road and will be in the front end of getting burnt from the slightest explosion.
Everyone in the house ran out picking nothing.
My younger brother was feverish and sleeping in the house, my sister dragged the heavy 12year old lad out of the house hastily, screaming and calling everyone out.
Luck was on our side, a brave man from the community ran to remove the tanker battery that was already sparking and that was the single act that saved the entire community. The business women cooking by the road side all put out their fire, no body dared to cook or light a stove in the entire community for more than 8hrs.
Nevertheless this didn't stop the community people from scooping the leaking fuel, before the police were sent to protect the tank, its content and community from such risky mistake. Firefighters poured loads of water around the tank and community as well. Unfortunately the driver and two others lost their lives from the accident.
I was glad I wasn't at the scene directly as sudden accidents like that could make me fall into crisis from excessive shock.
The tanker was still on the road by our house when I got home the following morning.
A similar scenario has occurred here in another town of the country which caused me to wonder if it is the hardship or corruption that has caused people to risk their lives in gravely manner.
The Numerous problems in Nigeria is always directed to the ruling bodies alone Individuals have always marked themselves free from all the corruption and hardship going on in the country but truth be told we all have a role to play in order to make the country a better place.
A large number of persons are looking for an opportunity to loot public funds and regardless of how righteous everyone claim to be,it is only when you are faced with a mass of wealth or natural resources that your virtues can be tested.
Do we all have potential to be greedy, selfish steak from public funds and all that, only a test can tell.
Today I claim to be a good citizen of my country but after I get elected to an office my true color is revealed, that is the problem with majority of our rulers.
Overtime we have clamoured that the youths are not been involved in politics but our political but some parties have defended this that the youths are not ready to rule the country and that politicians should be recycled because of their experiences.
The same circle of leaders have been elected over and over again under the umbrella of different political parties where they can swap from one to another each time a party is not in their favor.
These same set of leaders have introduced Different policies to rescue the country from poverty hardship and economic crisis but the decisions have never favored the masses in anyway.
If subsidy removal on petroleum products is good for the country at the moments, why are measures not taking to reduce its effect on the populace.
Could poverty be the reasons we have lost more than 20lives to a fuel fire explosion in one day
Where they greedy to run after a leaking tank just to steal fuel.
These set of citizens have themselves to blame for losing their lives to accidents that can be averted, one may say that the hike in price of fuel from 180 naira to 700 naira and above is the reason so many people have flunked out to the scene of a leaking tank just to tap fuel.
But truth be told even if fuel is sold at 200 naira per liter we would still have some Nigerians willing to risk their lives to steal fuel, been a living witness of this above
A fuel tanker has a slight accident on the road and villagers are tripping out to steal fuel not minding the danger involve.
Fuel tanker explosions is a common thing in the country, it has wiped out villages and taking numerous lives.
All of these accidents are avoidable.
I once heard that the tankers used for transporting fuel in the country are usually fairly used ones imported from other countries. Nigeria/Nigerians are known for purchasing fairly used products of different item including tankers and aircraft.
Regardless of the hardship and price of fuel in the country, there is always a way we can manage the situations
Some have resorted to buying bicycles
Others take short walk and only go out when necessary.
There is always a measure we can take to cut down cost rather than resort to fraudulent and dangerous means like this.
It is a pity that over 20 lives have been lost to tanker fire explosion including women.
Some of the victims have gone to scoop fuel and you can see their containers right by their sides.