Drivers and commuters have commended the Rivers State Fire service Commission and the Federal Fire Service for their swift intervention to avert what would have been a disaster at Elekahia Road, by Nkpogu junction in Port Harcourt.
The accident happened in the early hours of Friday, February 20, 2026, when a fully loaded tanker conveying petroleum products overturned, causing panic in the area.
Eyewitnesses revealed that the emergency services responded promptly to mitigate the situation and avert potential fire at the junction which connects to the industrial hub of Trans-Amadi.
A commuter, Mr Lawrence Enyinda, who spoke with TPCN in an interview, said “I didn’t see when it fell but I can tell you that passing this road this morning is very threatening and fearful. I was practically holding my heart on my palm, I was afraid.
“I am going to work. At Mother Cart area that’s where I work. We owe the Rivers State Fire Service Commission thanks because their presence alone has denced the pressure and anxiety.
“We have seen and heard alot about incidents like that that hundreds of people lost their lives, buildings burnt down, cars and all that, we thank God that it wasn’t so in this one.”
Enyinda who prayed against any form of casualty called for the immediate removal of the tanker, “they should immediately remove the tanker and it should be done carefully, we don’t want to hear any bad news because we have heard one already this morning, so we are tired of bad news in Rivers State.”
Another respondent, Mr Stephen Nyebuchi, a trader in the area also lauded the fire service commission over what he described as their timely intervention.
Nyebuchi explained that “when the tanker fell the petrol spilled on the road and thank God because school children, business men and woman were passing this morning.
“We thank God for the intervention of the fire service and the security agencies that helped to chase people away from there, you know Nigerians plus the hardship, if not, they would have been going there to pack it and who knows but we thank God.”
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