A fatal tanker explosion occurred in the early hours of today at the Oto-Ijanikin axis near the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), along the Badagry Expressway in Lagos. The incident involved a Mack Truck conveying diesel and tragically resulted in the deaths of the driver and an adult female occupant, who were trapped in the raging inferno that erupted after the crash.

Preliminary security investigations suggest that excessive speed was the primary cause of the unfortunate event. The tanker driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle while attempting to overtake another road user, leading to the subsequent crash and fire.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) personnel, who were monitoring vehicular movement in the area, immediately secured and cordoned off the affected section of the expressway to prevent further incidents. They promptly notified the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (Ojo Unit), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Ijanikin Police Division for urgent emergency response and security reinforcement.

A critical intervention by LASTMA operatives involved preventing members of the public, who had gathered at the scene with containers, from scooping the spilt diesel. This timely action effectively averted a potential escalation of the tragedy, preventing a secondary hazard before the arrival of other emergency and security agencies.

Following the successful containment of the blaze and clearance operations by relevant authorities, LASTMA personnel evacuated the severely burnt tanker from the expressway to ensure continued road safety along the busy corridor. Concurrently, the FRSC undertook the solemn task of removing the remains of the burnt bodies from the scene.

Olalekan Bakare-Oki, the General Manager of LASTMA, expressed profound sorrow and extended heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased, emphasizing the particular poignancy of such a loss during the festive season. He described the incident as deeply painful and entirely avoidable, reaffirming the Authority’s steadfast commitment to road safety and the sanctity of human life.

Bakare-Oki further underscored the urgent necessity for all tanker and articulated vehicle drivers to exercise heightened caution, strictly observe prescribed speed limits, and comply meticulously with all traffic regulations. He highlighted that reckless driving and speeding remain dominant factors contributing to fatal road traffic crashes across the metropolis. Additionally, he cautioned members of the public against the dangerous and irresponsible practice of scooping petroleum products from accident scenes, stressing that such conduct poses grave and far-reaching risks to both individuals and the general public.