Transloading of contents conducted under strict, methodical, and highly professional supervision.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has once again demonstrated exceptional vigilance and operational efficiency by averting a potential midnight inferno following the overturning of a fully laden Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) tanker at Awoyaya, along the inward carriageway of the Lekki–Epe Expressway.
The incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. and involved a lone articulated tanker transporting a significant volume of PMS. The tanker reportedly lost balance and overturned while navigating the inward-bound corridor of this high-traffic expressway. Given the flammable nature of the cargo and the strategic importance of the route, the situation posed an immediate threat to human life, public and private property, and the surrounding environment.
Upon receiving the distress alert, LASTMA’s Rescue and Recovery Unit was swiftly deployed to the scene. Operatives promptly:
- Established a secure safety perimeter
- Enforced comprehensive traffic control measures
- Initiated preparatory recovery procedures
The rapid response effectively prevented fuel scooping, secondary collisions, and the escalation of the situation into a catastrophic fire.
Simultaneously, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service was mobilized and immediately implemented stringent fire prevention and containment measures, including continuous surveillance to mitigate any risk of ignition.
With all critical safety protocols in place, no casualties were recorded. Vehicular movement along the affected stretch was temporarily suspended and cautiously restored after the scene was secured, ensuring public safety and averting a potentially disastrous outcome.
The transfer of fuel into another empty 33,000-litre tanker was executed meticulously under the supervision of emergency personnel, following strict safety protocols.
LASTMA reiterates its call to tanker and articulated vehicle operators to exercise utmost caution, maintain their vehicles rigorously, and strictly adhere to safety regulations, especially during night-time operations, to protect lives and safeguard critical public infrastructure.
Commending the seamless inter-agency collaboration, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, praised the prompt and professional actions of LASTMA operatives and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service in effectively averting what could have been a catastrophic incident.
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