NOA DG Condemns Fuel Scooping

NOA DG condemns fuel scooping, urges National Assembly to criminalise deadly practice Abuja, Nigeria The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, has strongly condemned the growing practice of fuel scooping from fallen or leaking tankers, describing it as a life-threatening and preventable danger, and has called on the National Assembly to criminalise the act.
Issa-Onilu spoke following recent incidents in which residents were seen scooping petrol and diesel from overturned tankers, often leading to fatal explosions, severe burns and environmental damage.
The NOA boss warned that fuel scooping has become a recurring national menace, stressing that many Nigerians continue to lose their lives due to ignorance, poverty and the absence of strict legal consequences. “This is not just recklessness; it is a deadly practice that has claimed too many lives. Strong legislation is urgently needed to deter people from endangering themselves and others,” Issa-Onilu said. NOA is urging lawmakers to explicitly criminalise fuel scooping, with stiff penalties for offenders. Issa-Onilu said clear laws would empower security agencies and emergency responders to enforce safety zones around accident scenes.
He emphasised that public enlightenment alone is not enough without legal backing and enforcement. Nigeria has witnessed multiple explosions in recent years after crowds gathered to collect fuel from crashed tankers, often resulting in mass casualties, destruction of property and long-term trauma for affected communities. The NOA renewed its call on citizens to: Stay away from accident scenes involving fuel tankers Report spills immediately to emergency agencies
Resist the temptation to scoop fuel, no matter the economic hardship
Issa-Onilu stressed that no amount of fuel is worth a human life, urging collective responsibility from citizens, lawmakers and authorities to end the practice once and for all.