Another Tanker explosion Razes 34 houses, 70 shops in Lagos
Another petrol tanker exploded on Saturday at Idimu, a suburb of Lagos, setting about 34 houses and 70 shops ablaze, just four days after a petrol tanker caused havoc in the Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos.
The latest incident occurred a little after 00.20 hours when the driver of the ill fated tanker was overtaking another tanker at the Idimu Bus Stop.
The tanker overturned in the process, spilled its content and immediately burst into flames.
The fire spread to nearby buildings and could have caused more damage but for the quick intervention of the Lagos State Fire Service, eye witnesses said.
They were joined by members of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the Police, NEMA and the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) for rescue operations.
Men of the Fire Brigade were said to have put out the fire by 6am.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode visited the scene of the incident in the afternoon to assess the situation.
He has summoned Petroleum Products Tanker Drivers’ Union and stakeholders to an emergency meeting on Monday to address the incessant petrol tanker-induced fire disasters in the state.
The governor said the number of tanker explosions in the state is disturbing and it was high time the state government sat down with tanker drivers to ensure it never happens again.
His words: “This is another unfortunate incident happening within one week. Unfortunate, in the sense that, we are beginning to lose a lot of our assets and property to fire. I have been briefed that there were two tanker drivers actually competing on the road as at midnight including a commercial bus driver. As a result, the tanker driver lost control at the bend and it was 33,000 litres of PMS and at a bend, in a sloppy area, you could see the contents went as far as five streets. We’ve lost close to 34 houses, 70 shops.
“We do not want this to repeat itself again. We have said it before, we need to address our tanker drivers and start to enforce our traffic laws. I have directed that the union of tanker drivers we would meet on Monday morning and we must make pronouncement relating to the usage of our roads."
Yemisi Osinaike sobbed uncontrollably as she recounted how her late father’s house went up in flames.
“It was only yesterday (Friday) that I spent all the money I had to stock my shop. Everything has been destroyed. Where do I start from?” she cried.
Moved by the pleas of some residents who lost their properties to the inferno, the Governor directed the State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) to collate the names of victims with a view to providing immediate relief to cushion their pain.
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