Society Editor
By Tolu Adesuwa Igiehon
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed a deadly tanker explosion that occurred in the early hours of today along the Badagry Expressway, near the Oto-Ijanikin axis and close to the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), inward Agbara.
According to preliminary security reports, the accident involved a Mack truck transporting diesel. Investigations revealed that the crash was triggered by excessive speed, as the tanker driver reportedly lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle.
The tanker veered off course, crashed, and burst into flames, resulting in a massive inferno that claimed the lives of the driver and an adult female passenger who were trapped inside the vehicle.
LASTMA officials on routine traffic monitoring duties swiftly secured and cordoned off the affected section of the expressway to prevent further accidents. The Authority immediately alerted emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (Ojo Unit), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Ijanikin Police Division, to ensure rapid intervention and security control.
LASTMA operatives also prevented members of the public from attempting to scoop spilled diesel from the scene, a move that authorities said helped avert a potentially larger disaster before emergency teams arrived.
After firefighters successfully put out the blaze, the severely burnt tanker was evacuated from the roadway by LASTMA to restore traffic flow and prevent secondary incidents. The FRSC later removed the remains of the victims.
Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the bereaved families, describing the tragedy as especially painful during the festive season.
He noted that the crash was entirely preventable and reaffirmed LASTMA’s commitment to promoting road safety and protecting lives across Lagos. Bakare-Oki warned tanker and articulated vehicle drivers to strictly adhere to speed limits and traffic regulations, stressing that speeding and reckless driving remain leading causes of fatal accidents in the state.
He also issued a strong warning to the public against the hazardous practice of scooping petroleum or diesel from accident scenes, emphasizing that such actions pose serious risks and often lead to catastrophic consequences.
