The incident occurred at about 2:00 a.m. along the inward-bound carriageway of the busy expressway when the articulated tanker, carrying a large volume of petrol, reportedly lost balance and overturned, a statement released on Sunday and signed by Adebayo Taofiq, LASTMA Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, said.
A potential midnight fire disaster was averted on the Lekki–Epe Expressway after a fully loaded Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) tanker overturned at Awoyaya in the early hours of Saturday, following the intervention of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
The incident occurred at about 2:00 a.m. along the inward-bound carriageway of the busy expressway when the articulated tanker, carrying a large volume of petrol, reportedly lost balance and overturned, a statement released on Sunday and signed by Adebayo Taofiq, LASTMA Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, said.
Given the highly flammable nature of the tanker’s contents and the strategic importance of the Lekki–Epe corridor, the accident posed a serious risk to lives, property and the surrounding environment.
LASTMA said its Rescue and Recovery Unit was immediately deployed after receiving a distress alert. Operatives cordoned off the area, enforced traffic control, and commenced emergency safety procedures to prevent fuel scooping, secondary accidents or ignition.
“In parallel response, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service was promptly mobilised to the location and immediately activated stringent fire prevention and containment protocols, including sustained surveillance to eliminate any risk of ignition or escalation,” the statement said.
No casualties were recorded. Traffic was temporarily halted along the affected stretch of the road before being cautiously restored after safety measures were fully secured.
Emergency responders later supervised the transloading of the petrol into another empty 33,000-litre tanker, a process officials described as carefully executed under strict safety protocols.
Commending the inter-agency collaboration, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, praised the prompt and professional response of LASTMA operatives and the Fire and Rescue Service, noting that their actions prevented what could have escalated into a major disaster.
LASTMA also used the incident to caution tanker drivers and operators of articulated vehicles to ensure proper vehicle maintenance and adhere strictly to safety regulations, particularly during night operations.
The agency reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and protecting critical infrastructure across Lagos State.
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