The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has commiserated with families of the victims of Friday’s fuel tanker fire incident at Obalende area of Lagos.

The tanker belonging to the NNPC was said to have tipped over before bursting into flames in front of the Oando filling station in Obalende area of the state triggering a traffic snarl.

The General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the 45,000-litre capacity tanker loaded with petrol caught fire after fallen on its side.

According to him, LASEMA got the distress call and dispatched its officials to the scene where they along with men of the Lagos State Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service fought and brought the fire under control.

“Unfortunately, the inferno has resulted in a single fatality, 15 minor casualties, and one major casualty, who happens to be a Lagos State Firefighter. He has been subsequently transferred to the Lagos State General Hospital for treatment while the minor casualties received on the scene medical attention,” he said.

But in a statement issued in Lagos by NNPC’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Dr Kennie Obateru, NNPC said it wishes all those that sustained injuries in the incident quick recovery.

Obateru explained that all the injured people had been taken to the hospital while further investigation was on to determine the cause of the accident.

He said:  “A fuel truck belonging to NPPC’s petroleum products retail affiliate, NNPC Retail Limited, was involved in the road accident while conveying petrol from the Satellite depot to the NNPC Mega Station in Ikoyi, Lagos.

“The mishap, which occurred around 5p.m. Friday, led to the inferno which consumed the petrol -laden truck in front of a hospital and gas station.”

Obateru expressed appreciation to the good spirited people of Lagos around the scene of the incident and fire service personnel who brought the fire under control.