The road safety agency and regulatory authorities have been tasked to engage tanker drivers and their unions to end indiscriminate parking of trucks in Niger state
In response to growing concerns over the dangers posed by the indiscriminate parking of petroleum tankers and articulated vehicles along major roads in Bida, Niger State, the House of Representatives on Wednesday called on relevant regulatory agencies to enforce safety standards and end the indiscriminate parking of tankers along major roads in Bida, Niger state.
Specifically, the ministry of works, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) were asked to engage stakeholders including the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association (PTD), and National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).
Recognising the urgent need for structural solutions, the House also urged the federal ministry of works, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), and the NMDPRA to collaborate with the Niger State Government and the private sector to establish Trailer Transit Parks (TTPs) in key locations such as Bida and Lambata. These facilities aim to ease traffic flow and ensure orderly parking of heavy-duty vehicles.
Additionally, lawmakers called on the ministry of works to expedite the reconstruction of the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata-Suleja road to reduce traffic congestion and limit the need for tankers to park along roadsides.
They also pressed for the security and reconstruction of the Mokwa-Makera-Tegina-Birnin Gwari-Kaduna route, which has been abandoned due to banditry and deteriorating road conditions.
Security agencies were tasked with intensifying patrols and monitoring high-risk areas to avert potential threats to lives and properties in Bida, while the House committees on works, petroleum resources (downstream), FRSC, special duties, and legislative compliance were mandated to oversee the implementation of these resolutions.
The resolutions were taken as lawmakers adopted a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Rep. Saidu Musa Abdullahi (APC, Niger).
Abdullahi revealed that concerned residents and youth groups—such as Nupe Excel, Landzun Youth Development Association, Bida 70s, and Eid Youth Association Bida—have raised alarms over the severe safety and environmental risks caused by improperly parked tankers. These include increased road accidents, environmental hazards from flammable substances, traffic gridlock, and security threats.
“The recent tanker explosion at Diko Junction in Niger State, which claimed several lives and destroyed properties, underscores the grave dangers posed by these vehicles,” Rep. Abdullahi said.
He also recounted a recent tragedy in Bida where a tanker crushed a nursing mother to death and left her husband seriously injured.
In an effort to address these challenges, the Niger State Government has embarked on constructing a 44-kilometer dual carriage bypass with complementary infrastructure, including a Trailer Transit Park. However, Rep. Abdullahi stressed that federal intervention is essential to resolve the issue comprehensively.
He further noted that the abandonment of the Mokwa-Makera-Tegina-Birnin Gwari-Kaduna route has redirected heavy traffic to the Bida-Agaie-Lapai-Lambata-Suleja road. This increased traffic, coupled with the slow pace of reconstruction of the Bida-Suleja road, has exacerbated the problem of indiscriminate parking.
The lawmaker warned that failure to act promptly could lead to more tragic incidents and a continuous threat to lives and properties, given the volatile nature of petroleum products and the high volume of vehicular and pedestrian movement in Bida.
History of Tanker Fire Explosions
Nigeria has recently witnessed multiple deadly tanker explosions, highlighting the risks posed by improper handling and parking of petroleum-laden vehicles.
- January 5, 2025: A tanker lost control and burst into flames in Delta State, killing five people.
- January 18, 2025: A crashed tanker explosion in Niger State killed 98 people and injured 55 others while they were scooping fuel.
- January 25, 2025: Along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, a tanker explosion killed 11 people. On the same day, another explosion in Enugu State claimed 18 lives when a fuel-laden tanker collided with vehicles.
- February 5, 2025: A tanker explosion at a filling station near Yola International Airport in Adamawa State reportedly killed at least 10 people, despite police claims of no casualties.
The frequency of such incidents underscores the need for immediate and decisive actions, as called for by the House of Representatives.
STAR Check: Nigerians, particularly, constituents of Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency, Niger State, can keep tabs on the legislative performance of Rep. Abdullahi throughout the 10th House here
