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NOA DG Issa-Onilu Emphasises Continued Sensitisation on Fuel Scooping Risks Despite Limited Resources

NOA Director-General Issa-Onilu has stressed the dangers of fuel scooping, describing it as “a form of suicide.”

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The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to educating and sensitising Nigerians on the dangers of fuel scooping.

Lanre Issa-Onilu, said this during an interview with Arise News on Monday, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to intensify public sensitisation efforts and to raise awareness on the risks associated with fuel scooping, which has led to tragic incidents in the past.

“We have the structure to engage, with personnel deployed across 774 local government areas to carry out advocacy and sensitization on various issues. This unfortunate situation is just one of them, and we will continue to do our best,” he said.

He emphasised that while the agency has the structure to engage communities across the country, a lack of adequate resources remains a major hurdle in achieving their goals.

However, Issa-Onilu acknowledged the agency’s resource constraints, stating, “We have capacity in terms of structure, with close to 4,000 personnel nationwide. But in terms of resources to embark on this sensitisation, we do not have enough. Nevertheless, we are not complaining; even the president is not complaining despite the enormous tasks he faces.”

He emphasised the need for improved capacity, adding, “We are already deploying our resources efficiently and doing our best to enlighten the public about the dangers they expose themselves to.”

Reflecting on a similar tragedy that occurred in Jigawa State a few months ago, Issa-Onilu admitted that despite NOA’s efforts, such incidents continue to happen.

“If we are not careful, we will keep experiencing these occurrences. This is an attitudinal problem stemming from a lack of value and self-care. In our part of the world, we don’t blame the dead, but we must address the root cause,” he said.

According to the NOA DG, the agency is focusing on value reorientation to instill a sense of responsibility and patriotism among Nigerians.

“The duty of care towards ourselves and fellow citizens is no longer there, which is why we are working on value orientation. We cannot achieve much as a nation without citizens who are patriotic, committed, and understand their roles.”

Regarding the agency’s response to the Jigawa incident, Issa-Onilu explained that NOA engaged community leaders, traditional rulers, market leaders, and transport unions to raise awareness at the grassroots level.

“This issue primarily affects community members who may not fully understand the risks involved. We carried out extensive outreach and advocacy visits to educate them that fuel scooping is essentially a form of suicide,” he stated.

Looking ahead, he stressed the importance of sustained behavioral change through the National Value Charter.

“We need a prolonged attitudinal change, and with the implementation of the National Value Charter, we hope that in the coming years, Nigerians will prioritise their safety over the short-term gains of engaging in such risky behavior.”

Issa-Onilu also pointed out the agency’s staffing challenges, noting that NOA’s workforce has declined from 7,000 personnel to below 4,000 due to retirements.

“We are working on addressing this gap, but it is not an issue to make noise about. Our focus is on getting the job done and engaging with relevant institutions and individuals to find solutions,” he said.

Despite resource limitations, the NOA remains committed to leveraging media platforms and community outreach to drive home its message.

“All our local government offices will use the media extensively. While resource constraints remain a challenge, we will continue to do our best and hope for better support,” he concluded.

Boluwatife Enome

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