Tanker Spills 45,000 Litres of PMS at Ilorin Filling Station

 

Tanker loaded with about 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) spilled a large quantity of fuel at a filling station in Ilorin on Saturday, triggering a major emergency and raising fears of a possible fire outbreak.

The incident occurred at about 5:08 p.m. at a filling station on Muritala Mohammed Road, along Old Jebba Road, Maraba Area of Ilorin metropolis.

The Kwara State Fire Service disclosed this in a statement signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, PFO Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, and made available to journalists in Ilorin.

According to the statement, the tanker had transported PMS from Lagos to Ilorin and was scheduled to discharge one compartment of its three-compartment tank at the filling station.

Trouble, however, started after officials of the station measured the product and discovered a discrepancy between the expected and actual quantity.

The statement said an attempt to retrieve some of the PMS from the tanker led to the opening of the valve, after which petrol began gushing out uncontrollably.

The valve reportedly became difficult to control, resulting in a large quantity of fuel spilling across the filling station and flowing towards Post Office Road and Amilengbe Road.

The development created a serious safety threat because of the highly inflammable nature of PMS and the presence of motorists, businesses, residents and other petroleum facilities within the vicinity.

Responding to the emergency, the Kwara State Fire Service deployed chemical foam across the affected areas, including the filling station, Post Office Road and Amilengbe Road, to suppress any possibility of ignition and prevent the situation from escalating.

Although no fire was recorded, the fire service said the volume of petrol spilled constituted a serious emergency that required immediate intervention.

The Chief Fire Officer, CFO Alabi Muhammed, commended the firefighters for their courage, professionalism and prompt response, saying their timely intervention prevented what could have been a catastrophic incident.

He also acknowledged the support of the Nigeria Police Force and the Kwara State Road Traffic Management Authority (KWARTMA) for helping to divert and control traffic around Agric Road, Amilengbe and Post Office Road.

According to the fire service, the traffic diversion helped keep motorists and members of the public away from the danger zone while firefighters worked to contain the spill.

CFO Alabi urged filling station operators and petroleum tanker owners to exercise greater caution during the loading, transportation and discharge of petroleum products.

He stressed the need for valves, hoses and other discharge equipment to be thoroughly inspected and confirmed to be in good working condition before any transfer operation begins.

The Chief Fire Officer also warned members of the public against approaching areas affected by petroleum spills, urging them to immediately contact emergency responders whenever such incidents occur.

He explained that the absence of visible flames does not mean a petrol spill is safe, noting that PMS vapour can ignite rapidly and cause a devastating fire.

The Kwara State Fire Service reiterated its commitment to protecting lives, property and critical infrastructure across the state, while commending its personnel for their dedication and effective handling of the emergency.