Driver arrested in Lagos as emergency responders rapidly contain fuel tanker spill
Driver arrested in Lagos as emergency responders rapidly contain fuel tanker spill
Emergency responders in the Surulere area of Lagos State averted a tragedy on Tuesday, as an articulated vehicle loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, fell off while in motion on top of Stadium Bridge toward Barracks/Ojuelegba on Funsho Williams Avenue.
The vehicle had the registration number T–22032EA.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday. According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, the fuel-laden tanker “fell on a Golf Volkswagen car (KRD 810 EA) and had its contents spreading over the other side of the expressway.”
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To prevent another imminent fire explosion, the LASTMA Response Unit (LRU) and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services quickly arrived at the scene. Policemen from Area ‘C’ Police Division at the Barracks provided security backup, while members of the public who had already gathered with buckets/jerry cans with the intention of scooping spreading fuel on the road were cleared from the scene.
Motorists coming towards Stadium Bridge inward Barracks/Ojuelegba on Funsho Williams Avenue diverted to ply the service lane and continued their journey.
“After arriving at the scene, our personnel immediately secured the environment against area boys, including other members of the public,” said Taofiq.
Preliminary investigations revealed that “the falling Conoil tanker loaded fuel at Apapa that was on its way to Ikeja before the truck developed a brake failure on Stadium Bridge.”
Traffic Officer Olukoga Olajide, who led LASTMA rescue operations to the scene, confirmed that the driver of the falling Conoil tanker, Sefiyu Adamu, was arrested and handed over to Apapa.