The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has condemned the dangerous and irresponsible act of scooping fuel from a fallen tanker, an incident witnessed today, Monday, 20th January, at Liverpool Bridge in Apapa, Lagos State.
Issa-Onilu described the act as “completely unacceptable in a modern society,” warning that it poses extreme and avoidable risks not only to those directly involved but also to motorists, nearby communities, emergency responders, and national infrastructure.
According to Bala Musa, NOA’s Director of Communication and Media, the agency has, over the years, conducted nationwide sensitisation and public enlightenment campaigns to educate Nigerians on the dangers of fuel scooping. Despite these efforts, some individuals continue to engage in the hazardous practice, highlighting a “conscious, reckless, and criminal disregard for human life and public safety,” Issa-Onilu said.
Citing past tragedies in Nigeria where tanker incidents led to explosions and the loss of hundreds of lives, the DG urged the National Assembly to enact legislation that explicitly criminalises fuel scooping and prescribes strict penalties for offenders. He emphasised that public awareness must now be reinforced by legal and enforcement measures to prevent further disasters.
“Human life is sacred and priceless. No situation, no excuse, and no momentary gain should justify conduct that places lives in imminent danger,” he concluded, reaffirming NOA’s commitment to intensifying safety advocacy and value-reorientation across the country.
