•The blaze of the five loaded tankers burning at Ekpan Tankers Park, Delta State, yesterday

A major fire outbreak erupted at the Optima Filling Station in the Obawole area of Fagba, Lagos, on Wednesday evening, following an explosion involving a petroleum tanker. 

The incident, which occurred around 5:00 p.m., was reportedly triggered by a 33,000-litre tanker discharging Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at the station, located along Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road.

According to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the fire ignited during the offloading process and subsequently affected a second 33,000-litre tanker that was stationed nearby. 

The blaze caused significant damage to the initial tanker, the station’s retail marts, and a one-storey residential building situated behind the filling station. Another structure on an adjacent street, sharing a fence with the station, was also affected.

Fortunately, no casualties were recorded in the incident. The filling station is owned by two members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

Firefighters from the Agege and Ikeja fire stations responded promptly, supported by additional fire trucks deployed from the Alausa headquarters. The combined effort ensured the fire was successfully brought under control and prevented further escalation.

In a separate incident earlier in the day, two persons sustained injuries following a tanker explosion on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The incident occurred at the NASFAT axis of the expressway when a petroleum-laden tanker fell and exploded, leading to massive traffic congestion in the area. Six vehicles were affected, including four trucks, a commercial bus, and a Toyota Camry.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Mr. Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the explosion, adding that the injured victims were taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Shagamu.

TRACE and the Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) deployed rescue teams to the scene. 

Sector spokesperson Florence Okpe confirmed that the explosion occurred on the outbound Lagos lane of the expressway.

“A fallen laden tanker at NASFAT turning, outbound Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, exploded. Traffic is seriously affected. Fire services were contacted, and motorists coming from Lagos were diverted through Christ Embassy Camp,” the statement.

Emergency responders, including TRACE, FRSC, the police, and the fire service, remained on ground to manage the situation and restore order.