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A fuel station on the Awka stretch of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway was engulfed by fire on Friday while discharging petroleum products, leaving behind destruction estimated at more than ₦100 million.
The facility, identified as Okeb Filling Station, went up in flames at about 2:00 p.m., according to the Anambra State Fire Chief, Chukwudi Chiketa. He disclosed that the fire service was not alerted when the incident began, a delay he described as costly.
“It is regrettable that our office was not contacted early enough to take control of the situation,” Chiketa said. “By the time we were informed, the damage was already extensive. From our estimate, property worth over ₦100 million was lost, though timely intervention could have saved much of it.”
The fire chief explained that six fuel pump stands, the truck conveying petrol, and three utility vehicles were completely razed. He advised petrol station operators to schedule discharges at night to reduce risks, and to maintain proper fire safety equipment such as industrial extinguishers and sand buckets.
Chiketa appealed to operators and the public to ensure emergency calls are made promptly, urging residents to use his direct phone line — 080 6965 4255 — in addition to the official emergency number whenever a fire incident occurs.
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The owner of the station, Okechukwu Ebele, who also serves as its Chief Executive Officer, said the losses were painful but expressed gratitude that none of his employees was harmed.
An eyewitness, Uche Ifeleoma, a local artisan, recounted how the tragedy unfolded. He said a truck delivering petrol had arrived and required an electrician’s service before the discharge could begin. According to him, while the electrician worked on the vehicle, a spark ignited the blaze.
“The fire spread too fast. We tried using sand buckets, but they were no match for it. We immediately began calling the fire service, but the emergency line was not going through,” Ifeleoma said. “The firefighters eventually arrived around 2:40 p.m. and managed to prevent the flames from reaching the restaurant and other sections of the complex.”
Okeb Filling Station houses facilities including petrol, kerosene and diesel pumps, a mini-mart, a lubricant shop, and a restaurant. Most of the main structures were affected by the inferno, though parts of the complex were spared.
