A tragic explosion from a petrol tanker on Christmas Day has left two people dead and caused significant damage along the busy Badagry Expressway in Lagos.
Details of the Christmas Morning Tragedy
The fatal incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, December 25th, around 4 a.m. at the Oto-Ijanikin axis, near the Lagos State University of Education. A fully loaded tanker, carrying 33,000 litres of petrol, was attempting to overtake another vehicle when the driver lost control.
The tanker subsequently crashed and immediately burst into a massive fireball. Preliminary investigations by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) identified excessive speed as a primary cause of the accident.
Emergency Response and Fatalities
LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed that the tanker driver and an adult female occupant were trapped in the ensuing inferno and died at the scene.
LASTMA officials on duty swiftly cordoned off the area to prevent secondary accidents and alerted key emergency services. Responders included:
- The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service
- The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)
- The Ijanikin Police Division
Firefighters from the Ojo and Badagry stations collaborated to bring the fierce blaze under control. Afterward, the charred remains of the tanker were evacuated, and the FRSC removed the bodies of the deceased.
Official Reactions and Public Warnings
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the event as an avoidable tragedy and sent condolences to the bereaved families. He issued a stern warning to tanker drivers to obey traffic rules and speed limits.
Authorities also highlighted a dangerous trend at accident scenes. LASTMA confirmed its officers had to prevent members of the public from attempting to scoop spilled diesel from the crash site, emphasising that such acts are extremely dangerous.
Margaret Adeseye, the Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, corroborated the account, attributing the incident to negligence. She confirmed one male adult died at the scene, while a female adult suffered severe burns.
The explosion caused panic among residents, with several houses and vehicles reportedly destroyed by the fire. This tragedy struck less than 24 hours after another fire at the Great Nigeria Insurance House in Balogun Market, raising fresh concerns about fire safety protocols in Lagos State.
