Diesel Tanker Explosion Kills Two In Lagos

Two people lost their lives in a diesel tanker explosion in the early hours of Thursday along the Badagry Expressway in Lagos.

The incident occurred at the Oto-Ijanikin axis, near the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), inward Agbara, and involved a Mack truck conveying diesel.

Preliminary findings from security investigations revealed that the explosion was caused by excessive speed, as the tanker driver reportedly lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle.

The truck crashed and immediately went up in flames, trapping the driver and an adult female occupant, both of whom were confirmed dead at the scene.

According to the spokesperson of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, officials of the agency, who were on traffic monitoring duty in the area, responded swiftly by cordoning off the affected section of the expressway to prevent further incidents.

He said the agency also alerted emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (Ojo Unit), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Ijanikin Police Division.

Adebayo explained that LASTMA operatives prevented members of the public from scooping the spilled diesel from the accident scene, describing the act as highly dangerous and capable of triggering additional explosions and loss of lives.

The intervention helped avert further tragedy before the arrival of other emergency and security agencies.

“Preliminary findings from security investigations indicate that the unfortunate incident was precipitated by excessive speed, as the tanker driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle while attempting to overtake another road user. The vehicle subsequently crashed and erupted into a raging inferno, tragically trapping and claiming the lives of the driver and an adult female occupant,” Adebayo said in a statement.

“In a further demonstration of vigilance and unwavering commitment to public safety, LASTMA operatives prevented members of the public who had converged on the scene with assorted containers from scooping the spilled diesel, an extremely hazardous act capable of triggering further explosions and avoidable fatalities. “

Following the containment of the fire, the severely burnt tanker was evacuated from the expressway by LASTMA officials to restore safety along the busy transport corridor, while the remains of the victims were recovered by the FRSC.

Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the families of the deceased.

He described the incident as painful and avoidable, urging tanker and articulated vehicle drivers to observe speed limits and comply strictly with traffic regulations.

Bakare-Oki also cautioned members of the public against scooping petroleum products from accident scenes, warning that such actions pose serious risks to lives and public safety.

THE WHISTLER reports that last Wednesday, two people died while three others sustained critical injuries after a Dangote Silo Mixer Truck collided with a commercial bus and four tricycles at Iyana Meiran, Lagos.

According to preliminary investigations, the incident occurred when the truck, reportedly traveling at high speed, suffered a sudden brake failure.