Panic yesterday afternoon took over the  Murtala Muhammed Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, following a fire outbreak at the Forte Oil petrol station in the area.

The firestorm, which started around 2.10pm, saw people fleeing  for safety, thereby causing vehicular gridlock on the roads within the airport. The station is located close to a tank farm along the airport road.

Spokesperson for the Lagos Airport Police Command, Joseph Alabi, said the incident occurred while a fuel tanker was discharging its product at the fuel dump.

“A tanker driver came to discharge fuel for them and during the process, fire broke out, but it has been put off now.

“It was a disaster because everywhere was burnt down, but there was no casualty. They called fire fighters from Lagos State Fire Service and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) responded.

“It was through their efforts that the fire was put out without causing further damages to other nearby structures,” Alabi said.