Ambode cautions tanker drivers after Iyana-Ipaja fire incident

Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Lagos state, has cautioned tanker drivers against reckless driving to avoid loss of lives and property.

Ambode made this known on Tuesday during a visit to the scene of a tanker fire accident at the Iyana-Ipaja area of the state.

A 33, 000 litre capacity tanker loaded with fuel skidded off a bridge in the area at about 12:58am on Tuesday, resulting to conflagration that affected residential buildings, shops and vehicles in four streets.

“Our tanker drivers have to start to do something about their operations, we cannot continue to lose property and lives because of their indiscipline,” he said.

“In the last four hours, all our emergency agencies have been effectively on the ground and we have been able to manage and control consequences of what 33,000 litres of petrol would have done to this neighbourhood.

“Thank God, there has not been any loss of lives, but again, there are victims whose shops were destroyed.

“As of the last count, the agencies have been able to report that everything has been put under control. We’ve also recorded two other incidences, just like this one in other parts of Lagos overnight; one in Badagry and the other one in the Ojo area.

“We will ensure that all those affected are helped to get back to their normal business lives.”

Razak Fadipe, director of the Lagos state fire service, said a number of people were injured while goods worth millions of naira were destroyed.