Disaster Averted As Fuel Tanker Overturns On Lagos Road
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency has contained a tanker accident involving a truck conveying 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit on Ijako Road, inward Oke Oso, along the Ajah Expressway in Epe.
In a Friday statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency said it received a distress alert at 11:32am and immediately activated its Whales Team from the Epe Base, which arrived at the scene four minutes after dispatch.
The agency said preliminary investigation showed that the tanker’s propeller detached from its joint, causing the vehicle to lose momentum and fall on its side.
It added that one of the tanker’s compartments was leaking, prompting responders to immediately commence safety and containment measures.
“There were no reported fatalities or injuries. Prior to LASEMA’s arrival, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Oke Oso Station, had commenced containment measures to prevent fire outbreak and environmental hazard,” the statement read.
LASEMA said the emergency operation was being coordinated under the Incident Command System, with personnel from the agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps and representatives of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers at the scene.
It said the multi-agency response was aimed at managing the situation and preventing further danger to motorists and other road users.
“The operation is being coordinated under the Incident Command System with full multi-agency collaboration,” the agency said.
It added, “Traffic has been effectively managed to ensure safety of motorists while preventing secondary incidents.”
According to LASEMA, an empty tanker had been mobilised to safely transfer the petroleum product from the fallen truck before recovery operations could begin.
“An empty tanker has been mobilized for the safe transloading of the product, after which recovery of the fallen truck will commence,” it said.
Oke-Osanyintolu commended the swift inter-agency response and the professionalism displayed by the emergency responders.
He reiterated the commitment of the Lagos State Government to protecting lives and property through proactive disaster risk reduction and adherence to global best practices in emergency management.
The permanent secretary advised motorists to cooperate with traffic officials and avoid the immediate area to allow emergency operations to continue unhindered.
“Motorists are advised to cooperate with traffic officials and avoid the immediate area to allow unhindered operations,” the agency said.
LASEMA said further updates would be provided as the situation develops.
It urged residents to call its toll-free emergency lines, 112 or 767, in case of emergencies.
