The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Oyo State Directorate, has issued a strong warning to Nigerians against the dangerous and recurring practice of fuel scooping, describing it as a life-threatening act capable of causing avoidable loss of lives, destruction of property, and widespread public safety hazards.
This warning was issued during a live radio programme aired on Impact Business Radio (IBR) 92.5 FM, Ibadan, following recent fuel tanker incidents in Lagos and other parts of the country where members of the public were seen scooping fuel from fallen tankers.
Speaking on the programme, while representing the state director, Mrs Ajolayo Sinmiat Akande, the Deputy Director and Head of Media and Communications, Oyo State NOA, Isiaka Kehinde, stressed that fuel scooping is neither an act of survival nor opportunity, but a deliberate and dangerous decision that endangers not only those involved but also innocent members of the public.
According to him, the National Orientation Agency has consistently carried out extensive enlightenment campaigns across traditional and digital media platforms to discourage fuel scooping, noting that the practice has led to several tragic explosions and mass fatalities in previous incidents across the country.
“Fuel scooping is a disaster waiting to happen. No material gain can ever equate the value of a single human life. Life is precious and should never be gambled with,” Kehinde stated.
He explained that NOA adopts a multi-layered communication strategy to drive the campaign, including deeply penetrating radio and television jingles, social media advocacy, community engagement, faith-based sensitisation, and the deployment of Community Orientation and Mobilization Officers (COMOs) across all local government areas to ensure the message reaches the grassroots.
The Deputy Director further disclosed that the Agency employs a media-mix approach, combining radio, television, print, digital platforms, and face-to-face advocacy, to ensure that the message against fuel scooping is communicated in languages and formats easily understood by all segments of society.
Kehinde emphasized that ignorance or poverty should not be used as justification for fuel scooping, describing the act as a “poverty of the mind” rather than economic deprivation. He noted that people from all walks of life have been observed engaging in the practice despite repeated warnings and public enlightenment.
He also revealed that the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has directed all state directorates to intensify advocacy on fuel scooping nationwide, stressing that NOA has activated its grassroots machinery across states to reinforce the message and prevent future occurrences.
On public safety measures, the Deputy Director advised citizens to immediately alert firefighters, law enforcement agencies, and emergency responders whenever tanker accidents occur, rather than rushing to scoop fuel, which often triggers explosions through sparks from metallic objects.
Kehinde further called for stronger institutional and legislative measures to deter the act, noting that continuous public enlightenment must be complemented with firm enforcement to safeguard lives and infrastructure.
He reaffirmed NOA’s unwavering commitment to promoting national values, civic responsibility, and responsible citizenship, adding that sustained advocacy, education, and value re-orientation remain central to preventing dangerous social practices.
The National Orientation Agency once again urges Nigerians to shun fuel scooping and prioritize safety, reminding the public that no fuel is worth a human life.
