Tanker Accident Leaves Commuters, Motorists Stranded On Lagos–Ibadan Expressway
Motorists and commuters along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were stranded, Sunday, for over four hours after a tanker, laden with Premium Motor Spirits, PMS, spilled its content on the road.
It, however, took the joint intervention of the Federal Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC; Police and other security agencies to avert what could have resulted in another tanker explosion on the busy expressway.
It was learnt that the incident happened at about 6am, Sunday when the driver of the tanker suddenly lost control and the tanker fell across the road, spilling its contents, constituting a risk to lives and property.
On receipt of a distress call, rescue team, led by FRSC, raced to the scene and cordoned off the road, which immediately, resulted in total standstill of all vehicular movements on both sides of the road.
The Lagos State Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr. Hyginus Omeje, said the accident occurred at 5:56 am on Sunday.
He said: “The traffic on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway inward Ibadan is currently cordoned off at Mowe area due to a crash involving a petrol tanker which spilled its content on the road.
All emergency response agencies were on the ground after cordoning off the road to allow for recovery process unhindered. An empty tanker was also on the ground now for trans-loading of the product and to remove obstructions.”
While advising motorists to exercise patience along the corridor or make use of alternative roads, such as Ikorodu, Lagos-Abeokuta Road, Omeje advised motorists to make use of alternate routes.
An eye witness, Mr. Kingsley Adegboye, who was trapped in the traffic for over five hours from Journalist Estate in Arepo Ogun State, lamented that the situation was aggravated by motorists who drove against traffic.
The situation was later put under control after completion of trans-loading of the content of the tanker from the road while the backlog lasted several hours before it cleared.
