A potential disaster was averted in Asaba, Delta State, when residents swiftly rushed to collect fuel from an overturned tanker on Monday night.
The incident took place around 8 p.m. at Aku-Ufu Junction, directly across from Sir Walks Motor Park, after the tanker overturned while navigating a damaged section of the busy expressway in the state capital.
Witnesses reported that numerous residents, equipped with buckets, gallons, and other containers, hurried to the scene to gather fuel.
The cause of the accident has been linked to the poor condition of the Asaba-Benin expressway.
local resident stated.
It was the bad portions of the road that made the tanker lose control
While some residents seized the opportunity to collect fuel, others, including tricycle operators, drivers, and workers at nearby filling stations, fled the area in fear of a possible explosion.
The incident also resulted in significant traffic congestion, with vehicles coming from Benin, Summit, Ibusa, and Koka unable to pass due to the road’s poor condition.
Residents have since criticized both the federal and state governments for allowing the road to fall into such disrepair.
“Who knows, if it weren’t for the firefighters, another explosion could have happened, and lives would have been lost,” remarked tricycle driver Isreal Emeka.
He urged the state government to promptly send engineers from the Ministry of Works to repair the road instead of waiting for federal assistance.This incident follows a similar tanker explosion at Koko Junction along the Warri-Benin expressway on October 1, 2023, which resulted in six fatalities and damage to vehicles and tankers.
