Two persons lost their lives on Christmas Day following a diesel tanker explosion along the Oto-Ijanikin axis of the Badagry Expressway in Lagos.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said the incident occurred in the early hours of the day near the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), inward Agbara.
According to LASTMA, the explosion involved a Mack truck conveying diesel.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the tanker driver was speeding and lost control of the vehicle while attempting to overtake another road user.
The tanker subsequently crashed and burst into flames, trapping the driver and an adult female occupant, who both died at the scene.
LASTMA officials monitoring traffic in the area immediately secured and cordoned off the affected section of the expressway to prevent further incidents.
Emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (Ojo Unit), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and officers of the Ijanikin Police Division, were promptly alerted.
The agency also prevented members of the public from scooping the spilled diesel, a move that averted a potential escalation of the tragedy before the arrival of other emergency agencies.
After the fire was brought under control, the burnt tanker was evacuated from the road by LASTMA personnel to restore traffic flow, while FRSC officials removed the remains of the victims.
Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep sorrow and commiserated with the families of the deceased, describing the incident as painful and avoidable, especially during the festive season.
He reiterated the authority’s commitment to road safety and urged tanker and articulated vehicle drivers to adhere strictly to speed limits and traffic regulations, warning that reckless driving remains a leading cause of fatal crashes in Lagos.
Bakare-Oki also cautioned members of the public against the dangerous practice of scooping petroleum products from accident scenes, noting that such actions pose serious risks to lives and property.
