Some of the survivors of an explosion that tore through crowds of people who had rushed to collect fuel spilling from a crashed tanker in Majiya, Jigawa state, killing at least 147, have narrated their experience. 

A Student, Sanusi Lawan, told reporters that he heard "shouts of joy" which made him rush to the scene joining hundreds of people to scoop up the fuel with buckets.

The 21-year-old said he took his first scoop of petrol filled in a  bucket home, after his brother persuaded him not to return for more, when they heard "a huge explosion and cries of pain and fright.

An explosion tore through crowds of people who had rushed to collect fuel spilling from a crashed tanker in northern Nigeria, killing at least 147.

The tragedy is the latest of such accidents at a time when petrol has become a precious commodity in tNigeria, which is perceived by experts to be suffering its worst economic crisis in a generation.

The fuel tanker which was trying to avoid another vehicle crashed in the town of Majiya, which resulted in residents crowded round the overturned tanker to gather the leaking fuel.

According to statistics, accidents involving tankers are frequent in the country, with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) recording 1,531 in 2020, causing 535 deaths.

Last month, at least 59 people died when a fuel tanker collided with a truck carrying passengers and cattle in northwestern Niger state.

The FRSC said more than 5,000 people died in road accidents in Nigeria in 2023, compared to nearly 6,500 the previous year.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the figures do not include accidents that are not reported to the authorities.

The WHO estimates annual road accident deaths in Nigeria to be closer to 40,000, it said in a report published last year.