Another petroleum tanker accident that would have led to a major explosion and devastation at the multi-billion Naira tank farm in Lagos was averted due to the vigilance and alertness of security operatives at the scene of the accident.
A fully loaded tanker fell and spilled its contents directly opposite the stretch of tank farms located at the popular coconut bus stop along the ever busy Apapa- Oshodi expressway.
The tanker which was carrying 33,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) was said to have loaded the products at Eterna oil depot but spilled the fuel after running into a ditch at a bad spot opposite Coconut bus stop.
The accident brought traffic to a total halt as security operatives; including the military were immediately mobilised to take charge of the situation and also direct traffic and also ensuring that no inflammable object was brought close to the fallen truck to avoid explosion because of the proximity of the accident to the array of tank farms.
According to an eye witness account, there was no live lost in the accident even as our correspondent who was at the scene noted that efforts were being intensified to ensure that the spilled contents were contained and transferred into another truck.
However the presence of security operatives at the scene could not deter residents and traders at Ibafon; a stone throw from the accident scene who moved in to mop up fuel from the drainage.
A member of the Petroleum Tanker Driver unit of NUPENG at the Eterna depot however told our correspondent that the accident was not reported by the marketer and owner of the product to the union for documentation and appropriate action. He explained that the accident took place shortly after the tanker was checked, certified and confirmed to go.
Shipping Position Weekly recalls that the chairman of the Lagos Zonal Council of NUPENG, Alhaji Nojeem Korodo had recently attributed the cause of most of the accidents involving tankers to bad roads and fatigue on the part of the drivers.
He e told our correspondent that “what I can attribute to the accidents is that it may be due to stress on the part of the driver, there is no adequate relaxation for tanker drivers embarking on long distance journeys, in advanced countries if you are driving a big truck by the time you move for a certain kilometer you will see a recreation centre to relax and cool your brain, this are drivers that have been on the queue for more than two days without sound sleep and even managed to load a product trying to get out of Lagos”.
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