A major tragedy was averted on Thursday morning when a fully loaded petrol tanker lost balance and fell near the gate of Winners’ Chapel, along the ever-busy Sango-Ota axis of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. The incident, which could have resulted in a catastrophic explosion, was promptly managed through the swift intervention of operatives of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), the Nigeria Police, Fire Service, and other emergency responders.
According to eyewitnesses, the tanker, which was conveying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), suddenly lost control while negotiating the bend near the church gate, spilling a portion of its content on the road. Panic immediately gripped motorists, worshippers, and pedestrians in the vicinity as they scampered for safety. However, within minutes, TRACE officials and other security agencies arrived at the scene to take charge of the situation.
The area was swiftly cordoned off, and traffic was diverted to alternative routes to prevent further congestion and reduce the risk of fire ignition. Firefighters from the Ogun State Fire Service were also on ground to contain any possible outbreak, while men of the Nigeria Police maintained order and prevented onlookers from getting too close.
Speaking on the development, a TRACE official at the scene commended the coordinated response of all agencies involved, noting that the timely alert and professional handling prevented what could have been a national tragedy. “We acted fast to secure the area, control traffic, and ensure that the spillage was contained. Thankfully, no life was lost, and the situation was brought under control,” he said.
Residents and passersby also applauded the swift intervention, urging the government to ensure regular maintenance of the expressway and stricter checks on tanker drivers to prevent future occurrences.
The fallen tanker was later towed away after hours of intense safety operations, and normal traffic flow was restored. Thanks to the prompt action of TRACE, the Fire Service, and the Police, what could have been a disaster of monumental scale was successfully averted.
