Recently, the people of Jigawa State and, by extension, Nigeria were thrown into mourning following the tragic death of about 140 persons in a fuel tanker explosion. According to reports, the driver of the tanker lost control near the Khadija University. The explosion occurred when bystanders, in an attempt to scoop fuel leaking from the tanker, ignited the flames that led to the catastrophic incident.

While comments and commiserations have poured in following this unfortunate event, one noteworthy development is the directive by the Senate to the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to enhance public awareness campaigns aimed at preventing such tragedies in the future.

 Established in 1993, the functions of the National Orientation Agency, as stipulated in Section 3 of the NOA Act, include enlightening the general public on Federal Government policies and programs, mobilizing favorable opinions on these policies, collecting and collating feedback from the public, energizing the conscience of Nigerians on their rights and responsibilities, and promoting the need to eschew vices such as corruption and ethnic bigotry.

However, over the years, the NOA has come under scrutiny over its effectiveness in carrying out these mandates. 

Many Nigerians have fallen victim to fuel tanker explosions resulting from scooping of fuel from fallen tankers. 

The huge casualty recorded in the Jigawa incident no doubt has raised questions about the mandate of the NOA 

How many lives could have been saved if the NOA had effectively communicated safety protocols and the risks associated with fuel handling? 

Here, we seek to understand the mandate of the National Orientation Agency, its strategies, achievements, challenges, and the path forward in ensuring that tragic incidents like the Jigawa tanker explosion are prevented in the future.