The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have prevented fuel scoopers from the danger of explosion following the fall of a fuel-laden tanker at Obadeyi bus stop near Meiran on Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, Lagos.
The lone accident of an articulated vehicle has occurred in the early hours of Wednesday.
Director of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said the service received a distress call at 06:50am and on arrival discovered a 45,000 Diesel tanker upturned and split it’s contents on the road.
Adeseye said the content was being ameliorated by the Agege Fire Station with the application of copious chemical foam compound from resulting in secondary incident.
Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Taofiq Adebayo, confirmed that the tanker with number plate JJJ 596 XX, fell around 6:10am and had its contents spreading on the expressway.
Adebayo said LASTMA officials, to prevent another imminent fire explosion after arriving at the scene, chased away scoopers and condoned off the entire vicinity.
“After arriving at the scene, LASTMA personnel immediately called the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services including Lasema Response Unit (LRU) and immediately secured the environment against area boys and other members of the public who had started scooping diesel with buckets/jerry cans,” he said.
According to him, Policemen from Meiran Police Division provided security backup at the scene.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the falling tanker fully loaded with diesel was coming from Abule-Egba going to Ijaiye before the driver lost control due to a brake failure at Obadeyi.
“There was a traffic diversion at Ahmadiya by both Ahmadiya Hospital Way likewise those moving against those from toll gate,” he added.
Traffic Officer Ajalekoko Bolade (Bravo 19, Abule-Egba) who led LASTMA rescue operations to the scene confirmed that the driver of the tanker ran away immediately after the incident.
