A major disaster was averted on Wednesday along the Ilorin–Jebba expressway as firefighters from the Kwara State Fire Service swiftly responded to a collision involving a 45,000-litre diesel tanker and a stationary truck, preventing a potential explosion.
The incident occurred at Shao junction, where an articulated diesel tanker collided head-on with a stationary truck parked along the roadside.
The spokesperson of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said in a statement that the tanker, bearing registration number T-16758LA, suffered severe mechanical damage following the impact of the crash.
“The impact of the head-on collision of the two vehicles damaged the tanker’s compressed air tank and airlines, resulting in brake failure,”; Adekunle said.
He explained that the situation was worsened by ongoing road construction on the opposite lane, which had forced all motorists to share a single route. This, he said, made manoeuvring difficult and dangerous, especially with the obstructing parked truck.
“This construction created a bottleneck that made the accident more severe,”; he noted.
Firefighters, upon arriving at the scene, acted quickly to prevent any fire outbreak. They immediately began wetting the accident site and the diesel-laden tanker to suppress any flammable vapours.
“The quick response of our men played a crucial role in avoiding what could have been a major fire disaster,”; the statement added.
In a coordinated effort, security agencies including the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Kwara State Traffic Management Authority (KWATMA), worked alongside the fire service to secure the area.
“The diesel was safely trans-loaded into an empty tanker with registration number AAA-527YA using a siphoning method,”; Adekunle said. “Security personnel maintained a vigilant presence to ensure public safety during the operation.”;
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service expressed appreciation for the swift and seamless collaboration among agencies.
