A deadly tanker explosion shattered the calm of Christmas along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway, claiming the lives of two people and sending panic through the Oto–Ijanikin axis near the Lagos State University of Education.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, confirmed that the incident involved a Mack truck laden with diesel, which burst into flames after crashing in the early hours of the day.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said the explosion occurred while the tanker was navigating the busy corridor.
Preliminary investigations pointed to excessive speed as the cause of the crash, as the driver reportedly lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle.
The tanker veered off course, crashed, and immediately erupted into a fierce inferno, trapping the driver and an adult female occupant, both of whom died at the scene.
LASTMA operatives, who were already monitoring traffic along the route, swiftly secured and cordoned off the affected section of the expressway to prevent further accidents.
Their prompt action ensured that vehicular movement was controlled and secondary incidents were avoided.
Emergency responders were immediately alerted, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (Ojo Unit), the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and officers from the Ijanikin Police Division, who arrived to contain the fire and provide security at the scene.
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In a critical intervention, LASTMA personnel also stopped members of the public who had gathered with containers in an attempt to scoop the spilled diesel.
The agency warned that such actions posed grave danger and could have triggered additional explosions and loss of lives.
The intervention helped prevent the tragedy from escalating before other emergency agencies fully took over.
After the fire was successfully extinguished and the area declared safe, the burnt tanker was evacuated from the expressway by LASTMA officials, while the FRSC removed the remains of the deceased.
Bakare-Oki expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended condolences to the bereaved families, describing the loss as particularly painful during the festive season.
He stressed that the crash was avoidable and reaffirmed LASTMA’s commitment to protecting lives on Lagos roads.
He further urged tanker and articulated vehicle drivers to exercise restraint, adhere to speed limits, and comply strictly with traffic regulations, warning that speeding and reckless driving remain leading causes of fatal road crashes across the state.
NAN
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