Two people have been confirmed dead following a diesel tanker explosion that occurred early Thursday along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said the fatal incident happened around the Oto-Ijanikin axis, close to the Lagos State University of Education. According to the agency, the tanker was involved in a crash while attempting to overtake another vehicle.
In a statement issued on Thursday, LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Mr Adebayo Taofiq, said preliminary investigations showed that excessive speed played a major role in the accident.
“The tanker driver reportedly lost control while trying to overtake another road user. The vehicle crashed and immediately went up in flames, trapping and killing the driver and an adult female occupant,” the statement said.
LASTMA officials were said to have arrived swiftly at the scene, securing the affected portion of the road to prevent further accidents. The agency also alerted other emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Ijanikin Police Division.
Officials further prevented members of the public from scooping spilled diesel, a practice authorities warned could have resulted in additional explosions and loss of lives.
After the fire was brought under control, the burnt tanker was evacuated to ease traffic and eliminate safety risks, while the FRSC handled the removal of the victims’ remains.
Reacting to the tragedy, LASTMA General Manager, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the incident as “painful and avoidable,” offering condolences to the families of the deceased. He urged tanker and heavy-duty vehicle drivers to adhere strictly to speed limits and traffic regulations.
Bakare-Oki also warned members of the public against approaching accident scenes to collect spilled petroleum products, stressing that public safety remains the agency’s top priority.
