By Atoyebi Nike
A major fire disaster was averted in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday evening following a swift response by the Oyo State Fire Services Agency to a petrol tanker accident near the Eleyele area.
According to the agency’s General Manager, Akinyemi Akinyinka, the incident occurred around 8:45 p.m. opposite the AIB Filling Station when a trailer tanker, with registration number T21044LA (Lagos), carrying 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), veered off the road into a ditch, causing fuel to spill.
Firefighters, led by Chief Fire Superintendent Olayiwola, quickly deployed to the scene and applied chemical foam compound to prevent the highly flammable fuel from igniting.
“The crew acted promptly and neutralised the threat before it could escalate,” Akinyinka stated.
The area was secured and normal traffic resumed after the tanker was safely removed. The operation was supported by officers from the Eleyele Police Command, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Amotekun Corps.
The incident adds to a growing number of tanker-related emergencies in the city. On July 17, a 33,000-litre fuel tanker exploded at Celica Junction on New Ife Road, damaging two vehicles. Another fire outbreak occurred on April 12 at the Lagos/Ibadan Tollgate, destroying several vehicles and properties. In both cases, quick intervention by fire service officials prevented wider devastation.
