Two persons have been confirmed dead following a diesel tanker explosion that occurred early Thursday along the Badagry Expressway in Lagos.
The accident happened around the Oto-Ijanikin area, close to the Lagos State University of Education, after a tanker conveying diesel reportedly lost control while trying to overtake another vehicle, leading to a crash and subsequent fire outbreak.
Confirming the incident in a statement shared on its X handle, the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr Adebayo Taofiq, said preliminary findings pointed to speeding as the major cause.
“Preliminary findings from security investigations indicate that the unfortunate incident was precipitated by excessive speed, as the tanker driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle while attempting to overtake another road user,” the statement said.
He added that the tanker burst into flames after the crash, trapping and killing both the driver and an adult female passenger.
“The vehicle subsequently crashed and erupted into a raging inferno, tragically trapping and claiming the lives of the driver and an adult female occupant,” Taofiq stated.
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According to the agency, LASTMA officials who were on traffic duty in the area swiftly intervened, securing the scene to prevent further accidents and coordinating emergency response efforts.
The statement noted that the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (Ojo Unit), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Ijanikin Police Division were immediately alerted to manage the situation and provide support.
LASTMA also disclosed that its officers prevented bystanders from scooping the spilled diesel, a practice that could have led to more explosions and casualties.
After the fire was brought under control, the burnt tanker was removed from the road to restore traffic flow, while the FRSC evacuated the remains of the deceased.
Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the tragedy as “deeply painful and entirely avoidable,” while sympathising with the families of those who lost their lives.
He urged drivers of tankers and other heavy-duty vehicles to strictly obey traffic rules, drive cautiously, and adhere to speed limits to prevent similar occurrences.
Bakare-Oki also cautioned members of the public against attempting to collect spilled fuel at accident scenes, stressing the grave dangers involved.
“The Authority remains steadfast in its commitment to public safety and the sanctity of human life,” he said.