The tanker reportedly lost control and rested on its side at about 7am forcing traffic officers to halt vehicular movement on the Ibadan-bound lanes, thereby causing a massive traffic jam that had stretched to Ojota as at noon.
The gridlock later extended to both sides of the road and spilled over to the Ojodu-Berger Road up to Agidingbi.
The timely intervention of security operatives and transport managers prevented the tanker from going up in flames as they cordoned off the scene, and prevented scooping of petrol and diversion to other routes traffic.
The development restricted vehicles going to and from Lagos with many commuters resorting to trekking, while commercial vehicle drivers increased their fares.
Some affected passengers said that they had left home early in the morning so as to participate in the Sallah morning prayer, but could not meet up, while others who revealed that they had rushed out to make brisk businesses on the Sallah day got trapped in the traffic.
The General Manager of the State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr Babatunde Edu, said that the accident was a lone one which might have resulted from the driver’s carelessness.
He however, revealed that no life was lost to it.
“We are taking our time to trans-load the content in order not to cause more danger.
“We had to call on experts from the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers to help in the evacuation; fire service workers are well on ground.
“The process of evacuation is ongoing, and very soon traffc will be normal as the blocked lanes will be opened,” Edu promised.
The Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Nseobong Akpabio, also confirmed the incident saying the fall of the tanker had also negatively affected traffic on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.(tribunereport)
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