No casualty was recorded when a tanker conveying 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) overturned on Ijako Road, inward Oke Oso, along the Ajah Expressway in Epe, Lagos State.
The Mack tanker reportedly overturned yesterday while ascending Ijako Hill following a mechanical failure, reports The Nation.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), which confirmed the incident, said preliminary investigation showed that the vehicle’s propeller detached from its joint, causing it to lose momentum and overturn.
One of the tanker’s compartments was found to be leaking, prompting emergency responders to immediately commence containment operations to prevent a fire outbreak and environmental damage.
LASEMA said it received a distress alert at about 11:32 am and activated its Whales Team from the Epe Base, with responders arriving at the scene about four minutes after dispatch.
Before LASEMA personnel arrived, officers of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service from the Oke Oso Station had begun containment operations.
Personnel from LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and representatives of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) were involved in the emergency response.
Traffic was managed around the scene to protect motorists and prevent secondary incidents.
According to LASEMA, an empty tanker was mobilised to transfer the petrol from the overturned vehicle, after which the tanker would be recovered.
The agency advised motorists to avoid the immediate area and cooperate with traffic officials to allow emergency operations to continue without hindrance.
LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, commended the emergency responders for their swift response and inter-agency collaboration.
He said the agency would continue to prioritise protecting lives and property through proactive emergency management.
