By Samson Adeyanju
Following the tanker explosion near Karu Bridge in Abuja, a Civil Servant, Chinedu Onyeze, has urged the federal government to enforce strict vehicular brake inspections, particularly on heavy-duty trucks, to curtail road tragedies.
Speaking at the scene of the explosion, Onyeze dismissed claims that CNG cylinders caused the blast, insisting that the accident was as a result of the impact of vehicular collisions, caused by brake failure of the ill-fated truck.
“The explosion was triggered by the force of the crash, not CNG. If CNG tanks were the issue, they would have exploded, but they were not—even under extreme heat,” he explained.
The truck driver, ostensibly aware that he was flaunting the FCT law that prohibits movement of heavy duty trucks at that time, was trying to beat the VIO on duty before a brake failure that made him rammed into several other vehicles to provoke a spark of fire.
There have been efforts by the FCT Administration to mitigate accidents on busy zones, including the recent effort of the legislative arm of government at the federal level, to further regulate the movement of heavy-duty vehicles.
However, many truck drivers remained adamant, flaunting such laws, meant to ensure that lives and properties are adequately protected.
In February 2025, the Nigerian Senate introduced a bill seeking to restrict the operations of heavy-duty vehicles to between 12:00 midnight and 6:00 am, except on emergencies.
The proposed penalties for violations include fines of ₦500,000 for individuals, ₦5,000,000 for corporate offenders with the vehicle involved to be impounded for up to 30 days.
These measures reflect efforts to enhance road safety and reduce traffic congestion in Abuja and across Nigeria.
However, Onyeze emphasized that CNG remains safer than liquid fuel and accused certain groups of using the incident to spread misinformation and to sabotage Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy.
“Some people are pushing propaganda because they stand to lose financially if CNG adoption succeeds,” he stated.
Onyeze therefore called on government to add, as part of the roles of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the conduction of mandatory roadside brake tests for all commercial trucks.
He noted that poor brake systems are a major cause of fatal road accidents in the country.
“Every heavy-duty vehicle should be checked regularly. If a truck’s brakes are faulty, it should be impounded with stern penalties,” he added.
The FCT Police Command confirmed that six people died in the explosion, while 14 vehicles were burnt.
Investigations into the incident are still ongoing.
