Victims of the December 13, 2017 FESTAC diesel tanker fire that consumed over two dozen vehicles, furniture amongst others recount their losses. They also lament the fact that the police have yet to unravel the identity of the tanker driver or owner, six weeks after. Gboyega Alaka who recently visited the scene, reports.
It was like Armageddon. So witnesses say. Roaring balls of fire; vicious fumes and flames; explosions upon explosions, as heat from diesel fire engulfed all combustible within reach. The array of exotic second-hand cars otherwise known as tokunbo cars on display just before the foot of the FESTAC-Mile 2 Link Bridge drew the most emotions, as they got engulfed, exploding in succession, as each got heated beyond tolerable temperature.
The presence of an array of well-finished furniture on display at a furniture shop closer to the bridge did not help matters. It literally accelerated the speed of the fire, creating thick poisonous fumes that made the most daring onlooker take to their heels. Practically, the little bag and box shop sandwiched in-between the car mart and furniture shop stood no chance, as the beautiful traveling bags and boxes promptly disappeared in the fire.
Witnesses say three commuter buses also went up in flames, just as six motorcycles turned to charred skeletons of metal and brass within minutes.
At the end of the fire fury, victims counted their losses. Thankfully, no lives were lost. Fire fighters eventually quelled what was left. With 21 cars burnt, the car mart suffered most. This may not necessarily include a couple other cars, which frontal casings were all melted, and engine partially burnt. A Ford Escape XLT and a Toyota Highlander stood out in this category. Even a truck van deep in the yard suffered partial burns. The dealers say they would require huge sums to put them back in shape.
Bridge closed for repair
The right side of the FESTAC end of the bridge also suffered greatly. As a result, that portion had to be closed to vehicular activities. That leaves the Lagos State government as co-casualty. Mr. Chen, a Chinese official of the construction firm, CCECC working on the repairs said told this reporter in his hardly comprehensible English that the repair of the two damaged pillars will take seven months. But one of its Nigerian staff, said even the seven months duration is dependent on the test being carried out on the third pillar. If it is confirmed to be damaged, then work will have to go on for much longer time. Inevitably the general public also suffers, as only the left side of the bridge is left for use, leading to monstrous traffic gridlock; especially at peak hours.
Wednesday like no other
The above were consequences of the vehicular mishap that took place on the afternoon of Wednesday December 13, 2017. A fully loaded 33,000-litre diesel tanker was said to have suffered mechanical hitches, as it ascended the bridge from the FESTAC end, falling off in the process. The ensuing spill and explosion turned the place into a roaring theatre of fire.
It was less than two weeks to Christmas and none of the victims imagined they would suffer such huge loss – not at that time of the year; not at any time. The furniture maker/dealer at the foot of the bridge, as a matter of fact, said he had laboured hard to complete several sets of exotic furniture in readiness for the demands that normally come with that time of the year. Same for the box seller. He had also stocked up just a few days before. The same may also be said of the car mart. A car dealer on the same First Avenue – not one of those affected, said dealers usually get more supplies in December from Nigerians who come home from Europe and America on holidays.
Counting the losses
A visit to the scene of the accident last week, showed visible relics of the disaster. The car dealers are yet to evacuate the carcasses of the burnt vehicles – possibly, so there wouldn’t be arguments about the number of burnt vehicles. The furniture man had nothing on ground – understandably so. His portion remains cordoned-off by the construction workers. However, the box seller has reclaimed his space. He only came back a day before, he told this reporter.
The car dealers, about six of them, sat in a shed chatting. If they still rue their loss, this reporter could hardly tell, but it’s been six weeks anyway. One of them, Aaron Uzor said life has to go on notwithstanding. He personally lost six cars worth about N21million. Another colleague, Oliver Okwocha said he also lost something in the region. More painful is the fact that the vehicles affected were some of the most expensive in the mart.
“You know we normally display the best cars outside to attract customers.” Uzor said.
Culprit driver yet to be traced
Uzor said the most painful aspect of the whole thing is the inability of anyone, not even the police to yet trace the driver or owner of the tanker that triggered the accident. Although he admitted that he isn’t the one following the case with the police, he volunteered that the police are yet to come up with any finding on the whereabouts of the vehicle, driver or owner. He wondered why it had to take so long to trace a vehicle owner’s identity despite the chassis and engine numbers. “In truth the tanker was burnt beyond recognition, even the number plate, but I believe that the police should be able to trace a vehicle owner through its engine and chassis numbers – the same way they use them to trace stolen vehicles. I believe that’s why every vehicle is supposed to be registered.”
Asked if the car mart was covered with any kind of insurance policy, Uzor said, “We don’t have insurance. This is because people give us these vehicles to sell for them; sometimes they even come back and take them. But people have told us that we could insure the whole park and when a car is sold or the owner comes to take it, we could remove it from the number of cars covered. So we are considering that now.”
They are also looking up to the Lagos State government and the Amuwo Odofin Local Government to help assuage their losses, while hoping the police would come up with something. “We have appealed to the Lagos State government and they have accepted our appeal. They requested for our tax clearance evidence, land use charge, business premises fee, dealers permit and co and we are already putting these together. So we believe there is hope in that regard.”
For me, there was no Christmas – Box seller
Charles Onuoha lost 67 boxes in the fire. He had stocked up for the coming Christmas and end of the year travelers, so he felt really hard hit. As a result, he said: “There was no joy in my house this Christmas.”
His sadness is compounded by the fact that there has been no reprieve in sight. He also had no insurance cover, and is only hoping that the police will someday soon uncover the identity of the tanker driver and owner. In the absence of that, the only possible reprieve would be from the (Lagos State) government, if they decide to be charitable.
He said he never felt any need for insurance – not for mere traveling boxes, until the accident. “The police say they have not been able to locate the driver or owner of the vehicle. Can you imagine that? And this is almost two months after. What that means is that we have been left to suffer our loss all alone.”
Psychologically, Onuoha said “It was a big shock and I’m yet to fully recover. I have never in my life experienced such a thing. In fact, I thank God that I’m still alive.”
Family-wise, he has been hard hit and said he just been managing to keep his family together. “I am married with two kids; as we speak, I am yet to pay my children’s school fees. I told the school management to give me some time; good enough they are aware of the incident and are showing understanding.
“To show you how bad it is, I only re-opened this shop yesterday (last Tuesday). The fire lapped up everything. I had 67 boxes in stock in readiness for Christmas/New year sales. Even my container shop was completely destroyed. I had to look for money to build a new one. As for my supply, I reached out to my importer suppliers and one of them only granted me what you see on display on credit. When I sell, I will make remittance.”
I lost 30 sets of furniture – furniture maker.
Anyone familiar with that axis would surely remember the vast furniture always on display by the foot of the bridge. Abiodun Rotimi Sunday is the man behind it. He cut a picture of somebody really deflated. His sagged shoulders and sober mien gave him away even before he introduced himself.
“I lost 20 sets of furniture already finished and on display for sale. I also had ten other sets from colleagues that I was to help them sell; you know this is a very conspicuous location. Put in cash, everything should run into the region of N10million. Don’t forget it was the Christmas season and sales are usually on the high side because of people who would be moving into newly completed houses or who want to give their living room a new look.”
Abiodun said he was away at Mushin market, where he had gone to buy materials, when he got a call about the incident. Instantly, he rushed back, but there was nothing he could do. “I couldn’t dare get close to the fire. It was bare-faced fire at its fury. People actually said it was milder, that it would have been worse and probably crossed over to the other side of the road, if it were petrol fire. But for me, that was enough fire; a fire that could destroy a bridge and ruin so many cars all in one swoop.”
Now he and his wife and five kids survive mainly on the benevolence of his church. “It is the church that is supporting me. I don’t even know how I can cope with paying school fees.” He said.
About Christmas, Abiodun said, “Christmas was not good. We just managed through it.”
He is also saddened by the fact that the police are yet to find the tanker driver or its owner. He has also made a statement at the police station and joined other victims in soliciting for government’s assistance, but as at the time of speaking, nothing concrete has emerged.
Don’t ask me about Christmas – Car dealer
Have you got any kind of compensation for your loss yet?
No compensation whatsoever. The police are yet to trace the driver or owner of the tanker.
When was the last time you spoke with the police on the matter?
I spoke with the DPO on this matter two weeks ago, but penultimate Monday, the DCO (Divisional Crime Officer) called me officially on the matter. It was in response to a call I made to him regarding investigation on the matter. After the incident, the plate number was burnt beyond recognition, so the police demanded that we copied the chassis and engine number, which we did. They collected the numbers and wrote to the Central Motor Licensing office requesting detailed information about the truck; but after some time, they said the licensing office said they didn’t have information on the vehicle. I asked the DPO if that was possible and he said yes. He said most of the tanker drivers don’t renew their documents, especially when they change their engines because police rarely stop them.
Have you been able to scoop any information on your own?
Nothing. When we heard that the truck may have loaded from the Satellite depot, I called and informed the police. I expect that they would shift their investigation to that end, working with the date and time space. But you know, I cannot be teaching them their job. I am not a police officer.
How about insurance? Do you have any cover?
We know about insurance but these are tokunbo (second-hand) vehicles. Most of them were given to us by individual importers who wanted us to help sell them; and they could come and take them anytime. So if we insure such cars, who bears the loss?
The DPO has said investigations are ongoing; is that a consolation?
Unless a special investigation team is taking up the matter, going by what they told me, I think they may have concluded efforts on the search. When they told me they couldn’t trace the owner from the licensing office, I asked ‘what next?’ and they told me they are not magicians.
Any hope of reprieve?
The only hope we have is in the government. The day the incident happened, a lot of government officials came here; the local government chairman, Amuwo Odofin Constituency representative in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Dipo Dina; representatives of the Lagos State government, even somebody came on behalf of the federal government. On December 27, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode also visited, although we were not here on the day. They asked us to write a letter, which we did. We have got first and second correspondence; but that is as far as we have come.
It must have been a very quiet Christmas for you and your colleagues.
You’re talking about Christmas? How do you expect Christmas to be? My brother, we survived only by the grace of God. We have started another school session; we need to pay the fees; our rents are due…. It is only God; help is not coming from anywhere.
