- Diesel tanker explosion claims two lives in Lagos on Christmas Day
- LASTMA confirms crash occurred at Oto-Ijanikin axis, Badagry Expressway
- Overspeeding blamed as tanker lost control while overtaking
- Emergency agencies respond swiftly to prevent further disaster
A diesel tanker explosion in Lagos has claimed two lives on Christmas Day after a Mack truck conveying diesel crashed and burst into flames along the Badagry Expressway, according to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
The fatal incident occurred in the early hours of December 25 at the Oto-Ijanikin axis, near the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), inward Agbara.
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LASTMA said preliminary investigations showed that the tanker driver was travelling at high speed and lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle. The truck crashed and immediately went up in flames, trapping the driver and an adult female passenger inside.
“The crash was caused by excessive speed, which led to loss of control and a fatal explosion,” LASTMA said in a statement.
Traffic officers quickly cordoned off the affected section of the expressway to prevent secondary accidents and alerted emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Ijanikin Police Division.
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LASTMA officials also stopped bystanders from scooping the spilled diesel, a move authorities said helped avert a larger tragedy before firefighters arrived.
After the fire was extinguished, the burnt tanker was evacuated from the road to restore traffic flow, while FRSC officials recovered the remains of the victims.
Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki expressed deep sadness and extended condolences to the families of the deceased.
“This is a painful and avoidable loss, especially during the festive season. Reckless driving and speeding continue to claim innocent lives,” Bakare-Oki said.
He urged tanker and articulated vehicle drivers to obey speed limits and warned members of the public against the dangerous practice of scooping fuel from accident scenes.