Motorists groan as residents scoop fallen tankers’ fuel

Motorists plying the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were stuck in a traffic jam that lasted for more than eight hours on Thursday after two tankers conveying petrol and black oil had a collision at the Asese end of the expressway.

Both tankers spilled their contents on the road, which resulted in a gridlock after security agencies cordoned off the expressway.

The traffic, which started around 6am, initially impeded vehicular movement inward Ibadan. It, however, spilled to the other side of the road after impatient motorists began to drive against the traffic.

Many commuters, who could no longer bear the gridlock, started to trek.

PUNCH Metro observed as residents, many of whom had 30-litre jerrycans, started scooping fuel from the fallen tankers.

There was almost a face-off between some youths and  some soldiers after the officers took the jerrycans of the residents and promised to assist in filling them up with fuel to maintain order.

The 30-litre jerrycans were subsequently filled up by a man, who was working under the instruction of one of the military officers.

The residents, who were eagerly waiting to collect their fuel-filled kegs, got angry when the five jerrycans were taken into the military officers’ truck.

The five 30-litre jerrycans were kept at the back of an OP MESA Sector 3 truck with number plate, Army NA 008 B02.

Some men and women, who arrived late to the crash scene, were observed by our correspondent scooping some black oil from a pothole into their containers.

A resident, who did not identify himself, said, “Before the soldiers arrived, people had been scooping fuel without any hindrance. The manager of a filling station nearby also scooped many litres of fuel.”

Around 1pm, the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, who was equally held in the traffic after a visit to Lagos State, was sighted by our correspondent moving round the scene of the crash.

After being briefed on the incident by an official of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Amosun went to meet some youths who were shouting the slogan of the All Progressives Congress.

He said, “There is no cause for alarm. There is fuel now in the country; so please be calm and maintain the peace.”

The Head of Operation, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mowe, Yusuf Olagunju, said the agency got an alert from its call centre at 6am.

He said upon getting to the scene, it was discovered that two tankers were involved in the accident during which their contents spilled on the expressway.

He said, “There were three vehicles involved in the crash:  a truck, with number plate, MKA 675 ZF, belonging to Oando and conveying black oil; a mack truck, with number plate, JJJ 787 XR, containing petrol and a Toyota Hilus, with number plate, GGE 747 CX.

“Five people were involved in the accident, but only one person sustained injury and he has been rushed to a hospital in Ibafo.”

The Unit Commander, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Mowe-Ibafo, Ojuoro Olushola, said the agency mobilised other traffic agencies to the scene.

He said the accident was caused by the impatience of the two truck drivers.

“We were patrolling around the time the incident happened, so we quickly called the fire service and other security agencies.

“The fire service wet the ground to avert fire disaster, while the police cordoned off the scene pending the conclusion of the operation. We also informed NUPENG to take care of the tankers,” he said.

The Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers of NUPENG, Kara-Ogere, Mosimi unit, Alhaji Isiaka Shittu, said he brought a pumping machine and an empty Forte tanker to transfer the petrol from the damaged tanker.

“There is nothing we can do about the traffic until we have completely transferred the fuel from the damaged truck.” he added.

The Area Commander, Ogun State Fire and Safety Services, Isheri-Ibafo Fire Station, Akinwande Abiodun, said the agency was at the site to ensure protection of lives.

Commuters who were held up in the traffic lamented that the government did not act promptly after the accident happened.

A sales representative, Tobi Adeleye, said he had been in the traffic for more than five hours, wondering why officials were busy transferring the fuel into another tanker instead of clearing the road.

He said, “I have been in this traffic since 8am, and I am still going to Kogi State. I had to trek from Ibafo to this place to know the cause of the traffic. The officers, instead of clearing the road, are just busy doing their own business. They ought to have cleared the tankers from the road first.”

A trader, Mrs. Afuye Oluwatoyin, who took her child to the scene, said she left her bus because of the heat.

“I am travelling to Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State. My child was crying in the vehicle and I had to remove her clothes due to the heat. We have been in this traffic for more than five hours now,” she added.

For Mr. Olatunji Osifowora, an engineer, the day was already wasted, as he could no longer meet up with a business appointment in Warri, Delta State.

He said, “We have been in this traffic for six hours now. The government ought to have mobilised its rescue team to do something urgently to fix this problem.

“An alternative route should also be considered so we don’t always get stuck and stranded as we are right now.”

At exactly 1.20pm, a crane was brought to remove the tankers from the expressway, after which the road was cleared and the traffic began to ease.