45,000-litre fuel tanker overturns in Lagos

A 45,000-litre fuel tanker overturned at Isimi Lagos, inward Itokin, Epe, Lagos State, on Thursday, spilling its contents on the road.

A statement by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, said the incident occurred after the tanker, with registration number T-18212LA, was involved in an accident with a Ford pickup van, registered as KJA-13FJ, loaded with animal feed.

The agency said its LRT Beta Whales Team stationed at Epe was activated following a distress call received at 10:19 a.m. and was immediately dispatched to the scene.

According to the LASEMA, preliminary findings showed that the tanker was attempting to manoeuvre past the stationary Ford pickup van, which had developed a mechanical fault along the carriageway, when one of its rear tyres slipped into a pit.

The tanker subsequently overturned and fell onto the pickup van, resulting in the spillage of its highly inflammable contents onto the road.

Following the incident, LASEMA activated its multi-agency incident management protocol and worked with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, LNSC, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and the Nigeria Police Force.

The emergency responders secured the area, introduced traffic control and diversion measures and deployed safety protocols to prevent a secondary incident.

To reduce the risk of a fire outbreak, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service covered the overturned tanker and its immediate surroundings with chemical foam.

The affected section of the road was also temporarily closed to vehicular movement to protect motorists and other road users.

LASEMA said the remaining PMS in the damaged tanker was successfully transferred to an empty tanker without incident.

With the support of a private tow truck, the overturned tanker and the affected Ford pickup van were subsequently removed from the roadway and taken to Ketu Police Station.

The road was later reopened to traffic after the vehicles were cleared from the affected section.

“Fortunately, no loss of life or injury was recorded in the incident,” the agency said.

The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, commended the swift response and coordination among the emergency responders, saying their professionalism helped prevent what could have resulted in a major disaster.

He reiterated the commitment of the Lagos State Government, under the leadership of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, to strengthening emergency preparedness, rapid response capacity and the protection of lives and property across the state.

Oke-Osanyintolu appealed to motorists, particularly drivers of heavy-duty vehicles and tankers transporting combustible products, to ensure their vehicles are in good mechanical condition, comply with traffic regulations and exercise caution on Lagos roads.

He also encouraged members of the public to report emergencies and road incidents promptly through the toll-free emergency lines for immediate intervention.