NOA condemns fuel scooping, urges National Assembly to criminalise act

NOA condemns fuel scooping, urges National Assembly to criminalise act

The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has strongly condemned the act of scooping fuel from fallen tankers, describing it as dangerous, irresponsible and unacceptable in a modern society.

Issa-Onilu’s condemnation followed an incident on Monday, January 20, at the Liverpool Bridge in the Apapa area of Lagos State, where members of the public were seen scooping fuel from a fallen tanker.

In a statement signed on Monday by the Director, Communication and Media, NOA, Mr. Bala Musa, the Director General said the practice poses an extreme and avoidable threat to human life, public safety and national infrastructure.

According to him, the danger goes beyond those involved in the act, extending to motorists, nearby communities, emergency responders and critical public assets.

“The collateral danger involved is enormous and far outweighs any perceived or imagined benefit,” Issa-Onilu said.

He noted that the NOA has over the years carried out sustained nationwide sensitisation and public enlightenment campaigns to educate Nigerians on the dangers of fuel scooping and similar high-risk behaviour.

However, he expressed concern that despite repeated warnings and value-reorientation efforts, some individuals have continued to engage in the life-threatening practice.

The Director General stressed that fuel scooping cannot be justified under any circumstances, rejecting attempts to link the behaviour to poverty.

“This is not poverty. Poverty does not take away the sense in people’s heads, nor does it eliminate judgement or the instinct for self-preservation. What we are witnessing is a conscious, reckless and criminal disregard for human life and public safety,” he said.

Issa-Onilu recalled several tragic incidents across the country where fuel tanker accidents resulted in explosions and infernos after people attempted to scoop fuel, leading to the loss of hundreds of lives.

He described such incidents as painful reminders that the practice is recurrent, preventable and must no longer be tolerated.

In view of the grave danger, the NOA boss called on the National Assembly to urgently initiate and pass legislation that will expressly criminalise fuel scooping from fallen tankers and prescribe clear and deterrent penalties for offenders.

According to him, public enlightenment alone is no longer sufficient and must be backed by strong legal and enforcement frameworks to end the deadly practice.

Issa-Onilu urged Nigerians to collectively reject actions that repeatedly lead to mass casualties, national trauma and avoidable loss of lives, while reaffirming the Agency’s commitment to intensifying value-reorientation and safety advocacy nationwide.

“Human life is sacred and priceless. No situation, no excuse and no momentary gain should justify conduct that places lives in imminent danger,” he said.