The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Wednesday led a multi-agency public awareness and simulation exercise in Kano State against drug abuse by fuel tanker drivers.
The exercise, held at the NNPC Depot in Hotoro, brought together key stakeholders in emergency response, road safety, fire control, and petroleum transport.
The agency said the exercise aimed to sensitise tanker drivers and the general public on the consequences of tanker accidents, often worsened by negligence and drug abuse.
Dr Nuradeen Abdullahi, the NEMA Territorial Coordinator for Kano and Jigawa, said the drill was part of the agency’s broader strategy to improve inter-agency coordination and foster a proactive safety culture.
“Disaster management is a multi-agency, multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary issue,” Abdullahi said, adding that joint response and prevention efforts are crucial in mitigating the impact of recurring tanker explosions, especially in densely populated urban and transit corridors.
He urged tanker drivers to remain vigilant, avoid drug use, and operate vehicles responsibly.
He said, “We’re here to prevent disaster before it strikes. People must also stop scooping fuel at accident sites—it’s a deadly practice.”
The Executive Secretary of the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Isyaku Abdullahi-Kubarachi, reinforced the call, and urged drivers to apply lessons learned from the simulation and adhere strictly to safety regulations.
“Your role is absolutely critical—not just in keeping the economy running—but in ensuring public safety,” he said, while commending the collaborative spirit of participating agencies.
On his part, Mr Abubakar Idris-Ahmad, Kano Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), represented by Deputy Commander of Narcotics, Mr Bulus Musa, delivered issued a warning against drug abuse among drivers.
“Combining fuel and drugs is like putting fire into one container. It leads to recklessness, carelessness, and ultimately—pandemonium,” Musa said.
Also speaking, Alhaji Sanin Malam, Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (Kano Branch) of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), described the event as timely.
“Our union enforces strict rules. Drivers found taking drugs are banned from operating tankers, and night driving is prohibited. Defaulters are penalised,” Malam stated.
Fire control agencies also called for caution. Mr Khazeem Sholadoye-Oyefola, Controller of the Federal Fire Service in Kano State, identified carelessness—alongside drug use—as a leading cause of road fire disasters.
“Prevention begins with awareness and responsibility. This exercise is a step in the right direction,” he said.
The event featured live emergency response demonstrations to fuel spills and fire outbreaks, with the Red Cross, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), NEMA, and other responders in action.
A stakeholders’ engagement and debriefing session followed, with agencies brainstorming ways to strengthen public awareness and reduce the frequency of such disasters.
Dr Suleiman Yunus of the Department of Geography, Bayero University Kano (BUK), presented a paper titled, “Preventing Fuel Tanker Accidents and Related Fire Disaster: A Call for Public Awareness and Inter-Agency Collaboration”, and reinforced the urgency of united action against what he termed “an avoidable national tragedy.”
NEMA said the simulation is one in a series of interventions by its agency to bring government, security, academic, and transport actors together in curbing the deadly threat of fuel tanker disasters in the country.