A 45,000‑litre fuel tanker overturned on a Lagos road in the Epe area on Thursday, spilling its contents onto the carriageway. The incident occurred at Isimi, Inward Itokin, when the tanker, registered T‑18212LA, collided with a stationary Ford pickup van (KJA‑13FJ) that had been carrying animal feed.
Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said it received a distress call at 10:19 a.m. and dispatched its LRT Beta Whales Team from Epe to the scene. Preliminary findings revealed that the tanker was attempting to manoeuvre past the stalled van when one of its rear tyres slipped into a pit, causing the vehicle to overturn and fall onto the pickup.
The tanker’s highly inflammable cargo spilled onto the road, prompting LASEMA to activate a multi‑agency incident management protocol. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force all responded. The fire service applied chemical foam to the overturned tanker and its surroundings to reduce the risk of a fire.
Traffic on the affected section was temporarily closed, and the area was secured with traffic control and diversion measures. The remaining petroleum products were transferred to an empty tanker without incident. A private tow truck then removed the damaged tanker and the pickup van, which were taken to Ketu Police Station. Once cleared, the road was reopened to traffic.
“Fortunately, no loss of life or injury was recorded in the incident,” LASEMA said. Permanent Secretary Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke‑Osanyintolu praised the swift response and coordination among the emergency teams, noting that their professionalism helped avert a major disaster.
Oke‑Osanyintolu urged motorists, especially those driving heavy‑duty vehicles and tankers carrying combustible products, to keep their vehicles in good mechanical condition, comply with traffic regulations and exercise caution on Lagos roads. He also encouraged the public to report emergencies and road incidents promptly via the toll‑free emergency lines for immediate intervention.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
