In a dramatic incident on Thursday evening, a 45,000-litre petrol tanker, registered as PTG 534 XA, burst into flames while transferring petrol into the reservoir of Fortunate Petrol Filling Station in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.
The event unfolded at approximately 19:44 hours at the filling station situated opposite Government Secondary School, Maraba, on Old Jebba Road.
Eyewitnesses reported that the state fire service’s prompt response played a crucial role in preventing a potentially catastrophic fire at the filling station.
Within 10 minutes, firefighters successfully brought the inferno under control and extinguished it, sparing the station and nearby structures from extensive damage.
Hassan Adekunle, the spokesman for the state fire service, stated that “investigation revealed that the tanker, having travelled a considerable distance, became excessively hot, leading to the ignition of spilled petrol during the transfer to the filling station’s underground reservoir.”
Hon. AbdulRazaq Jiddah, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, was present at the scene and commended the firefighters for their heroic efforts and swift response. He expressed gratitude that their intervention prevented further damage to the filling station and the surrounding area.
Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, used the opportunity to remind the public to prioritize safety, particularly during this period.