The Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) has warned members of the public against scooping fuel from fallen tankers in order to avert disaster.
The Sango-Ota Area Commander of TRACE, Mr Adekunle Ajibade, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ota.
Ajibade gave the warning while reacting to an accident involving a diesel-laden tanker that fell at outbound Sango-Ota, Opposite Rhema Chapel Church, on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway on Tuesday.
He explained that a Blue Mack tanker marked T 191 LA was coming from toll-gate to Sango-Ota when it lost control and fell, spilling its content into the drainage at about 5:49 a.m.
He lamented that some residents were at scene of the accident scooping diesel from the drainage.
Ajibade stressed the need for members of the public to desist from such act, “because scooping fuel from fallen tanker could ignite fire.”
He noted that such act had led to the death of many people in the past.
“We appeal to members of the public to stop scooping diesel or petrol when tanker falls on the highway because their lives are more precious than what they gain from the proceeds of the product,” he said.
Ajibade said that the driver of the tanker had absconded before TRACE personnel and other agencies got to the scene of the accident.
He said that no life was lost in the accident.
Ajibade attributed the cause of the accident to speeding and advised drivers to always be careful at the bad portions of the road.
He said that the tanker has been towed off the road to ease the free flow of traffic. (NAN)
