File copy: Fuel tankers

Another tanker laden with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on Thursday fell into a ditch by Chipex Petroleum Station around Upper Iweka axis within Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra.

Mr Emeka Obinwa, Executive Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Media confirmed the incident to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Awka.

Two incidents of Petroleum tanker accident which later caught fire were recorded in Onitsha on Oct. 16, and Oct.18, 2019 respectively.

Obinwa said that PMS was spilling out from today’s tanker at the time of filling this report, but added that the highly infammable substance had yet to catch fire.

“As we speak, there is no fire at the scene. Fire fighters are seriously working at the scene, pouring water to the tanker to prevent outbreak of fire,” he said.

Also Police in Anambra issued a statement advising residents in the Area to stay clear of the area in order to prevent any disaster.

SP Haruna Mohammed, the Command’s Public Relations Officer who signed the statement said Police patrol teams have cordoned off the Area.

He said that Mr John Abang, the Commissioner of Police, Anambra had visited the scene where the tanker crashed into a gutter due to brake failure for on the spot assessment.

Mohammed said the tanker, which was coming from Benin was heading to Enugu with the product before the accident on Thursday afternoon.