Fallen tanker causes 16hr gridlock in Lagos.

Rescue workers trying to seal the cover of the tanker loaded with fuel, which fell at Berger Bridge, in Lagos, on Friday, October 26, 2012. 

Vehicular traffic came to a standstill for  16 hours on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Friday, cutting short the trips of Eidel-Kabir holiday makers and other travellers.

The traffic logjam caused by an accident involving a 30,000 litre petrol tanker snowballed into frustrating spillover effect for road users across other parts of Lagos metropolis, while government agencies battled to evacuate it.

The petrol tanker was leaving Lagos for Ogun State at about 12 am on Friday when it ran into a pothole by New Garage, Berger. Consequently, the tanker ran into the road divider and eventually fell on its side blocking the expressway. The impact of the fall caused the tanker to detach its head from the body.

Social Activist learnt that while the tanker crossed the road, its detached head kept spinning for a while before it stopped.  However, rivulets of fuel dripped from the tanker onto the road and into the open drainage at the kerb.

Having envisaged a bad traffic situation, an Armoured Personnel Carrier station around the area was removed, while some passersby had volunteered to redirect motorists caught in the snarl up.