At least two people were confirmed dead in the early hours of Christmas Day after a fully loaded 33,000-litre petrol tanker exploded along the Badagry Expressway in Lagos.
The incident occurred around 4 a.m. on Thursday at the Oto-Ijanikin axis, close to the Lagos State University of Education. The tanker was said to have lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle before crashing and bursting into flames.
Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said preliminary findings showed that excessive speed was a major factor. According to the agency, the tanker driver lost control during the overtaking manoeuvre, leading to the crash and the subsequent inferno.
LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, disclosed that the driver and an adult female occupant were trapped in the fire and died at the scene.
He added that LASTMA officials on duty quickly cordoned off the area to prevent further accidents and alerted emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps, and the Ijanikin Police Division.
The agency also confirmed that its officers stopped members of the public from attempting to scoop spilt diesel from the scene, describing the act as extremely dangerous.
After the fire was brought under control, the burnt tanker was evacuated, while the remains of the deceased were removed by the FRSC.
Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the tragedy as avoidable and extended condolences to the families affected. He urged tanker drivers to obey speed limits and traffic rules, and warned the public against approaching accident scenes involving fuel spills.
Several houses and vehicles were reportedly destroyed in the fire, causing panic among residents of the area. Firefighters from Ojo and Badagry stations worked together to contain the blaze.
The Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, also attributed the incident to negligence, confirming that one male adult died at the scene, while a female adult sustained severe burns.
The explosion occurred less than 24 hours after a separate fire incident at the Great Nigeria Insurance House in Balogun Market, Lagos, raising renewed concerns over fire safety in the state.
