A fuel tanker overturned and caught fire early Saturday morning at the Ibafo/Aseese section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Thankfully, no lives were lost in the incident, according to the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency.

Fuel Tanker Explodes on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Emergency responders, including the Fire Rescue Services and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), swiftly arrived at the scene. By 8:30 am, they had successfully extinguished the fire. Traffic, which had been severely disrupted, began to resume normal flow, extending to the Wawa/Arepo axis of the expressway.

Emergency personnel continue to assist with easing the congestion caused by the accident. TRACE Spokesperson Babatunde Akinbiyi reported that the incident occurred around 7 am. His update read, “As of 0830 hrs, the fire has been put to rest. Traffic is gradually moving. Operatives are on the ground to ease the traffic. I will provide additional updates later.”

TRACE Divisional Commander for Mowe-Ibafo, Kabir Ojerinde, confirmed no casualties. Speaking to our correspondent, he mentioned that the remaining fuel is being trans-loaded into another tanker. He elaborated, “The crash happened around 5:30 am. Fortunately, no other vehicles were involved. We can’t confirm if overspeeding was a factor, but the tanker overturned and caught fire. The emergency response was quick, and we have moved the truck to ease traffic. Trans-loading is ongoing with another truck on-site.”

The tanker was burnt beyond recognition, making it difficult to identify the owner or the vehicle’s registration details.

Ogun FRSC spokesperson, Florence Okpe, also confirmed the involvement of five adult males, all of whom escaped unhurt. Her statement titled “Crash Report of a Burning Tanker at Ibafo along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway” provided details: “The crash occurred at 0657 hrs. Five adult males were involved, and no injuries or deaths were recorded. The vehicle was an IVECO truck without a number plate. The suspected cause was speed, leading to a loss of control. The tanker was loaded with fuel, and no casualties were recorded. The rescue operation has concluded, but traffic management is ongoing.”

In a related development, the Ogun FRSC Command has urged tanker drivers to install speed limit devices and comply with traffic regulations to prevent accidents. FRSC Sector Commander in Ogun, Anthony Uga, emphasized this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria. He stated, “We appeal to tanker drivers to install speed limit devices and safety valves to avoid preventable disasters. They should also ensure their vehicles are in proper working condition by conducting daily checks before trips.”

Uga also advised tanker owners to hire qualified drivers and provide adequate training to enhance road safety for all users.

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