.
..FAAN, Lagos fire services to the rescue
An inferno which would have reduced the entire domestic area of Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos to ashes was averted this morning after an articulated vehicle filled with 33, 000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) petrol fell down and spilled its content within the airport environment.
The accident occurred at about 09:45 hours after the driver lost control of the vehicle while descending the slope on the link bridge between Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja and the Lagos Airport.
To avoid running into headquarters of Arik Air or the Forte Oil filling station located at the entrance of the Zulu Terminal, Domestic wing of the airport the driver of the vehicle alleged to be a driver assistant ( Motor boy), swerved the vehicle, it hit the median before it fell on its side, after hitting a bus stop shed newly constructed by Lagos state government at the airport.
Yours who witnessed was at the scene of the accident had just left the spot where the vehicle rammed into.
However, prompt responses from combined teams from Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) Aerodrome Rescue Fire Safety Services and Lagos State Fire Services prevented the tanker from bursting into flame.
The tanker owned by Forte Oil was bringing supplies into the station when the accident occurred.
It would be recalled that the station which was reopened in June this year was consumed in an inferno that engulfed it on December 8, 2018.
africanbusinesstravel.com.ng learnt that the last year’s inferno at the station was caused by lack of due diligence on the part of Forte Oil management.
Investigations revealed that a driver of one of the petrol tankers that brought supplies was attempting to restart his vehicle using battery from another vehicle, resulting in sparks which ignited the fuel vapour from another vehicle discharging fuel in the station.
It was further learnt that management of FAAN had embargoed the reopening of the station for operation until some safety requirements are met.
Among the required conditions for the reopening of the station was that every personnel of the station must have been trained and obtained licences on safety procedures.
It was specifically stated that, on no condition should motor assistant (Motor boy) drive any vehicle bringing fuel into the station.
The requirements also mandated Forte Oil to always use only serviceable vehicles for supplies to the station.
However, it was observed that after the renovation of the facility, the management of the fuel station did not meet the safety recommendations before returning into full operation.
Thank God, no fire and no life was lost.
However, I have noted that most of the tanker driver usually speed within the airport.