Two people have been confirmed dead following a fatal diesel tanker explosion along the Badagry Expressway in Lagos, authorities said on Thursday.
The accident occurred at the Oto-Ijanikin area, close to the Lagos State University of Education, after a truck conveying diesel reportedly lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle.
The tanker subsequently crashed and burst into flames, resulting in a fire that consumed the vehicle.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), which confirmed the incident, said preliminary investigations pointed to excessive speed as the major cause of the crash.
According to the agency, the driver lost control during the overtaking manoeuvre, leading to the impact and the subsequent explosion.
In a statement, LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, said the inferno trapped the driver and an adult female passenger, both of whom lost their lives at the scene.
LASTMA officials who were on traffic duty in the area were said to have responded promptly, moving quickly to secure the scene and prevent further danger.
The affected section of the expressway was cordoned off to avoid secondary accidents and ensure the safety of other road users.
Emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (Ojo Unit), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and officers from the Ijanikin Police Division, were immediately alerted and deployed to the scene.
The traffic agency also disclosed that its personnel prevented members of the public from attempting to scoop diesel that had spilled from the tanker, warning that such actions could have led to additional explosions and loss of lives.
After the fire was brought under control, the severely damaged tanker was removed from the road to restore traffic flow, while the FRSC evacuated the remains of the victims.
Reacting to the tragedy, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the incident as painful and avoidable.
He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and reiterated the need for strict adherence to traffic rules.
Bakare-Oki urged drivers of tankers and other heavy-duty vehicles to observe speed limits, drive cautiously, and comply fully with road safety regulations.
He also cautioned the public against the dangerous habit of collecting spilt petroleum products from accident scenes.
He reaffirmed LASTMA’s commitment to protecting lives and ensuring safety on Lagos roads, stressing that human life must always take precedence over negligence and risky behaviour.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered the demolition of the 25-storey Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building on Lagos Island after it was severely damaged by a major fire outbreak.
The governor gave the directive on Thursday during an on-the-spot assessment of the incident at Martins Street, near Balogun Market, where the fire broke out late on Wednesday.
He said the decision to pull down the structure was necessary to avert further danger once emergency teams fully extinguish the blaze.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that a committee headed by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Gbenga Oyerinde, has been set up to coordinate and supervise the demolition process in the coming days.
He assured residents and business owners that the exercise would be carried out in an orderly and safe manner.
According to the governor, no deaths were recorded in the incident, although several people sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.
He added that emergency responders would remain at the scene to prevent a resurgence of the fire and ensure public safety.
The governor warned residents and traders to remain cautious, particularly during the dry season when fire incidents are more frequent.
He advised people to stay away from the affected area as investigations and safety measures continue.
Sanwo-Olu also pledged that the state government would support traders and others whose businesses were affected by the fire.
He said the administration would work with relevant agencies to assess the damage and provide necessary assistance.
The fire, which reportedly started within the GNI building, spread to at least four other nearby structures.
When journalists visited the area the following day, shops along Martins Street were shut, while traders were seen hurriedly evacuating goods from adjoining buildings.
Authorities cordoned off the street and nearby roads, suspending commercial activities to reduce risk and allow emergency operations.
Although there were no fatalities, about seven people were hospitalised with injuries resulting from the inferno.
Several agencies, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps, Federal Fire Service, and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, were deployed to the scene to control the fire, manage traffic, and maintain order.
The state government said updates would continue to be provided as recovery and safety operations progress.
