45,000-litre fuel tanker overturns in Lagos

A tanker loaded with 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) overturned at Isimi, inward Itokin, in Epe, Lagos State, on Thursday.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said the tanker, with registration number T-18212LA, collided with a stationary Ford pickup van, marked KJA-13FJ, which had developed a mechanical fault.

According to the agency, the tanker was attempting to manoeuvre past the vehicle when one of its rear tyres slipped into a pit, causing it to overturn and fall onto the pickup van.

The accident resulted in the spillage of the petrol on the road.

LASEMA said it received a distress call about the incident at 10:19 a.m. and deployed its response team from Epe to the scene.

Emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps and the police, secured the area and diverted traffic.

The fire service also applied chemical foam around the overturned tanker to reduce the risk of a fire outbreak, while the affected section of the road was temporarily closed.

LASEMA said the remaining petrol in the damaged tanker was subsequently transferred into an empty tanker without incident.

The overturned tanker and the pickup van were later removed from the road and taken to Ketu Police Station.

“No loss of life or injury was recorded in the incident,” LASEMA said.

The agency advised drivers of tankers and other heavy-duty vehicles to ensure their vehicles are in good mechanical condition and comply with traffic regulations.