ABUJA — Three firefighters sustained injuries after a petrol tanker exploded at a filling station in the Area 3 district of Garki, Abuja, triggering panic and causing extensive damage to nearby structures, including part of a Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office.
Emergency responders battled the inferno for several hours before bringing the fire under control.
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Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud explosion before thick smoke engulfed the area, forcing motorists and business owners to flee.
Officials of the Federal Fire Service, the Federal Capital Territory Fire Service, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) responded swiftly to prevent the flames from spreading to adjoining fuel facilities and residential buildings.
Authorities confirmed that the injured firefighters were receiving treatment while investigations commenced to determine the immediate cause of the explosion.
The incident has renewed concerns over petroleum transportation safety in Nigeria, where tanker explosions continue to claim lives annually.
Experts have repeatedly called for:
- stricter enforcement of tanker safety regulations;
- regular vehicle inspections;
- relocation of fuel depots away from densely populated areas; and
- improved emergency response infrastructure.
Nigeria has witnessed several devastating tanker explosions over the past decade, prompting repeated calls for reforms in petroleum logistics and urban planning.
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