LASTMA Chase Residents Scooping Fuel From Tanker To Avert Possible Explosion

To avert possible danger of explosion, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have reportedly chased away residents of a Lagos Community who were scooping fuel from a fallen tanker in the neighbourhood.

A fuel-laden tanker had fallen at the Obadeyi bus stop near Meiran on the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, Lagos, on Thursday morning.

Confirming the incident, the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Taofiq Adebayo, said the tanker with number plate JJJ 596 XX, fell around 6:10 am and had its contents spreading on the expressway.

The LASTMA official, according to The Nation, disclosed that the agency has to chase away residents scooping the spilt fuel to avert an imminent fire explosion.

He said, “After arriving at the scene, LASTMA personnel immediately called the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, including the 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.

“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 the toll gate.”

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.

Also giving an account of the incident, Director of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said the service received a distress call at 06:50 am and, on arrival, discovered a 45,000 Diesel tanker upturned and split its contents on the road.

Adeseye said the content was being ameliorated by the Agege Fire Station with the application of copious chemical foam compounds from resulting in a secondary incident.