A 45,000-litre tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has overturned at Isimi, inward Itokin, Epe, Lagos State, with no casualty recorded.
The incident occurred when the tanker, with registration number T-18212LA, was attempting to manoeuvre past a Ford Pickup van, KJA-13FJ, which had developed a fault and was stationary on the carriageway.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said one of the tanker’s rear tyres slipped into a pit during the manoeuvre, causing the tanker to overturn and fall on the van.
The accident resulted in the spillage of the highly inflammable product on the roadway.
LASEMA said it received a distress call about the incident at 10:19 a.m., prompting the immediate deployment of its LRT Beta Whales Team stationed in Epe to the scene.
The agency said it activated its multi-agency emergency response protocol in collaboration 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 Nigeria Police Force.
The emergency responders secured the scene, controlled traffic and diverted vehicles to prevent a secondary incident.
To reduce the risk of fire, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service applied chemical foam around the overturned tanker and its immediate surroundings.
The affected section of the road was also temporarily closed to traffic while emergency operations were carried out.
LASEMA said the remaining PMS in the damaged tanker was successfully transferred into an empty tanker without incident.
The overturned tanker and the affected pickup van were subsequently removed from the road with the aid of a private tow truck and taken to Ketu Police Station.
Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, commended the emergency responders for their swift response and coordination, saying their professionalism helped to avert a potentially major disaster.
He urged motorists, particularly drivers of heavy-duty vehicles and tankers conveying combustible products, to ensure their vehicles are in good mechanical condition and comply with traffic regulations.