Nigeria: accident statistics.

Nigeria has signed international agreements relating to the transport of dangerous goods by road

On November 18, 2018, this state signed the International Agreements on the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), becoming its 51st member.

This ratification follows yet another tanker truck explosion on Nigerian roads.

Indeed, on June 28, 2018, a tanker truck caught fire on a congested bridge in the economic capital, Lagos. 54 vehicles, including 5 buses, were burned, resulting in 9 fatalities.

"We must find a way to ensure that tanker trucks are driven by more responsible drivers," confirms the spokesperson for the state of Lagos. There is a need to "work more closely with federal agencies to prevent these crises from happening all the time".

One might have hoped that the accident rate would improve following the ratification of the ADR. The accident that occurred this week highlights all the difficulties this country faces in securing the flow of dangerous goods. The roads are in poor condition, and drivers often have to swerve to avoid potholes. The population rushes to the crashed vehicles to retrieve some black gold, risking their lives.

July 12, 2012: a truck veered off the road to avoid 3 oncoming vehicles. Hundreds of people, mostly motorcycle taxis, rushed to the tanker truck to fill their tanks. The ensuing explosion resulted in the death of more than 100 people, only 6 of whom could be identified.