Ayodele Olalere
What could have resulted into another major fire incident on Lagos road was on Tuesday evening averted by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, following spillage of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, by an oil tanker at Ogudu under bridge inward Alapere, Ketu, Lagos State.
The oil spilling Iveco truck with registration LSD 155XT, loaded with 50,000 litres of petroleum had a leakage in one of its compartments which resulted in oil spillage on the road.
According to the agency through it’s Head, Public Affairs, Nosa Okunbor, the quick recovery of the oil tanker was made possible when the leaking compartment was repaired and the spillage was effectively stopped, enabling the truck to be recovered safely off the road to a lay by.
“The timely recovery effectively dismantled the existing traffic gridlock which had been managed by the control mechanism put in place with diversion of traffic from the hotspot by combined efforts of LASTMA, Lagos Neighbourhood Service Corps and Rapid Response Squad.”
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, who was also at the scene of the incident said the quick intervention of the agency’s Tiger unit and Lagos State Government Fire Service who were on ground prevented ignition of fire as a result of the spillage with effective blanketing.
Osanyintolu advised residents, commuters and motorists to exercise extreme caution due to the highly flammable nature of the product, while encouraging motorists to use alternative routes where possible.
