OYO STATE, NIGERIA — What could have been a tragic explosion involving a petrol tanker was swiftly averted on Thursday, July 3, thanks to the prompt intervention of the Oyo State Fire Service Agency.

The incident occurred at about 12:20 p.m. in Onigari village along the Oyo/Ogbomoso expressway when a petrol tanker, fully loaded with 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), lost control and overturned by the roadside. Eyewitnesses at the scene confirmed that the tanker, an IVECO vehicle bearing registration number Kaduna: BKA 661 XA, began leaking its highly flammable contents shortly after it fell.

According to an eyewitness, Mr. Remi Olasunkanmi, the tanker lost balance while the driver was attempting to navigate through potholes on the expressway. “The driver was trying to avoid the bad portions of the road when the vehicle lost control and fell. Fuel started gushing out immediately. Everyone started running, thinking it would catch fire. It was the swift response of the fire service that saved us,”

Confirming the incident in a statement on Friday, the Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Mr. Maroof Akinwande, commended the quick and coordinated efforts of the agency’s personnel in preventing what could have been a major fire disaster.

“The Oyo zonal command of the fire service responded immediately to the report of a fallen petrol tanker at Onigari village,” Akinwande said. “The incident was reported at exactly 12:34 hours on Thursday, July 3, by a running caller and Wahab Akeem. A team led by CFS Tijani was immediately deployed to the scene.”

On arrival, the firemen met the tanker lying on its side with the cab completely detached from the body of the vehicle. Akinwande explained that the tanker was actively leaking PMS onto the road and into the surrounding area, posing an extreme risk of fire or explosion.

“In such situations, the risk of combustion is very high, especially with a substance as volatile as petrol,” he said. “Our men acted swiftly by applying fire-suppressing chemicals, securing the perimeter, and following all necessary safety protocols to contain the situation.”

In addition to the fire service team, personnel from the SAFER Highway Patrol also arrived at the scene to provide security and maintain order as emergency operations continued. Vehicular movement along the route was temporarily slowed to allow emergency workers to do their job and to ensure the safety of commuters.

Mr. Akinwande emphasized the importance of quick emergency response and commended the professionalism of the fire service team. “If not for our timely intervention, this could have resulted in a devastating fire outbreak, endangering lives, property, and the environment,” he said.

He also called on motorists, especially tanker drivers, to exercise more caution when driving on highways, particularly those with poor road conditions.

The Oyo State Fire Service has continued to respond to various emergencies across the state, reinforcing its commitment to public safety and swift emergency management.

As of the time of this report, the affected tanker had been secured, and no injuries or fatalities were recorded. However, the incident has once again brought attention to the poor condition of many Nigerian highways and the urgent need for repairs and proactive maintenance to prevent such potentially tragic accidents.