At least two people lost their lives in the early hours of Christmas Day after a fully loaded 33,000-litre petrol tanker exploded along the Badagry Expressway in Lagos.
DIP CONNECT gathered that the incident occurred at about 4 a.m. on Thursday around the Oto-Ijanikin axis, near the Lagos State University of Education.
Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said the crash involved a petrol tanker that reportedly lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle.
In a statement issued on Thursday, LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, explained that preliminary investigations indicated excessive speed as the cause of the accident.
“Security investigations reveal that the incident was triggered by over-speeding, as the tanker driver lost control while trying to overtake another road user. The vehicle subsequently crashed and went up in flames, trapping and killing the driver and an adult female occupant,” the statement said.
Taofiq added that LASTMA officers on routine traffic monitoring in the area responded swiftly by securing and cordoning off the affected section of the road to prevent secondary accidents.
The agency also alerted the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (Ojo Unit), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Ijanikin Police Division to ensure prompt emergency response and security.
According to LASTMA, its officers prevented members of the public from attempting to scoop spilled diesel at the scene, warning that such actions could have triggered further explosions and fatalities.
After the fire was brought under control, the severely damaged tanker was evacuated to eliminate traffic risks, while the remains of the deceased were removed by the FRSC.
Reacting to the tragedy, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the incident as “deeply painful and entirely avoidable,” and extended condolences to the families of the victims.
He urged drivers of tankers and other articulated vehicles to adhere strictly to speed limits and traffic regulations, and cautioned the public against the dangerous practice of collecting spilled petroleum products at accident scenes.
“The Authority remains committed to protecting lives and ensuring public safety,” Bakare-Oki said.
The inferno reportedly destroyed several houses and burned multiple vehicles, throwing residents of the area into panic. Firefighters from the Ojo Fire Station, supported by their colleagues from Badagry, battled the blaze.
Also speaking, the Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, attributed the explosion to negligence, noting that emergency responders were able to contain the fire.
She said a male adult was confirmed dead at the scene, while a female adult was rescued with severe burns.
The incident occurred less than 24 hours after another fire outbreak razed part of the Great Nigeria Insurance House plaza at Balogun Market on Wednesday.
ADEOLA KUNLE
