Property worth millions ?of naira were destroyed when a tanker laden with 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) fell of the Iyana Ipaja bridge, spilling its contents and exploded.
According to reports, the incident, which affected five streets in the area, happened at 1am yesterday.
When SHIPS & PORTS DAILY got to the scene of the incident yesterday morning, operatives of the Lagos Fire Service and security agencies were seen putting off the flames and maintaining peace.
Over 40 shops and 18 cars were destroyed in the inferno.
Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who visited the scene of the accident, blamed frequent tanker explosions in the state, which usually lead to fire and loss of lives and property, on carelessness and indiscipline of drivers.
He said, “Around 1am, a tanker loaded with 33,000 litres of petrol fell from the Ipaja bridge and spilled all its contents covering almost five streets here.
“In the last four hours, all our emergency agencies have been effectively on the ground and we have been able to manage and control consequences of what 33,000 litres of petrol would have done to this neighbourhood.
“Thank God, there has not been any loss of lives but again, there are victims whose shops were destroyed.
“As of the last count, the agencies have been able to report that everything has been put under control. We’ve also recorded two other incidences, just like this one in other parts of Lagos overnight; one in Badagry and the other one in the Ojo area.
“It would also mean that our tanker drivers have to start to do something about their operations. We cannot continue to record loss of lives and property because our tanker drivers ?are not disciplined.”
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