A major disaster was averted, on Thursday morning by the quick intervention of combined efforts of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, TRACE, Police, FRSC, and Fire Service when a petrol-laden tanker fell on its side at the entrance gate of Winners’ Chapel, along the Ota-Idiroko Road.
The Caveat.com.ng reports that the tanker loaded with petrol, fell on its side while attempting to enter the church premises to discharge its contents at one of the filling stations in the church premises.
Confirming the report, Commander Adekunle Ajibade, the Ogun-West Zonal Commander of TRACE, who spoke on behalf of the most Senior Official in the state traffic outfit, CDR Omonayajo Elias, told TheCaveat.com.ng that the accident, which occurred at about 8:29 a.m., did not record any casualty.
“However, we thank God that our operatives, led by TRACE Ota Divisional Commander, Salau Hammed, in the company of the police, Road Safety, and Fire Service were able to avert what would have resorted to a major calamity, as no life was lost and no one sustained any injury in the incident,” he said.
Ajibade added that the timely intervention of security agents from Ota and Atan Divisions, alongside the Fire Service in Ota, who were always on ground, forestalled any outbreak of fire and prevented loss of lives or property.
He further said that human and vehicular traffic, inbound Oju-Ore on the axis, has been diverted to the otherside, and the affected route cordoned off to ensure safety. This, he said was necessary to avoid the temptation of people attempting to scoop fuel from the site of the fallen truck.
The Commander advised tanker drivers to reduce speed and exercise patience, especially during these Ember Months and beyond, to prevent avoidable crashes, adding that they should always ensure their trucks are properly fixed before putting them on the roads, as reports of falling trucks are too rampant nowadays due to non-chalant attitude of drivers/owners to their trucks.
Ajibade further advised truck drivers/owners, as well as their various associations to engage truck handlers in various educative programme, saying series of similar accidents in Shagamu, Atan, Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, to mention just a few are examples of the need for regular education and enlightenment of truck handlers.He added that efforts are on to restore normalcy on the axis as crane truck and other rescue vehicles are on ground doing the needful to upturn the fallen tanker fuel truck.
