A petrol-laden tanker has fallen on the Lambata-Lapai-Agaie Road in Niger State, causing fear among residents in the area.

Daily Trust gathered that the tanker, which took off from Lagos and heading to Kano, overturned in the early hours of Sunday at Takalafiya village in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State.

A resident of Lapai town, Mallam Mahmud Abubakar, told our correspondent on telephone that the scene of the incident is just about 2km from Lapai town.

He said the spot where the tanker fell had been recently reconstructed under the ongoing NNPCL intervention project, but the road had already started deteriorating within a short period.

Another source, Mohammed Hassan Sonmaji, told our correspondent that the prompt intervention of the fire service unit of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBUL) and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) helped avert a major disaster.

He added that officials of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Lapai Chapter, mobilised to the scene to assist in managing the situation.

It was further gathered that the spilled fuel was recovered into drums to prevent wastage and environmental hazards.

When contacted, Dr. Ibraihim Audu Hussaini, the Director of Information and Special Duties, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) said there was no cause for alarm.

He confirmed that the truck did not explode and fire fighting trucks of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai were on standby at the scene.

He added that security personnel had also been mobilized to guard the scene. (Daily Trust)