Two people lost their lives in the early hours of Thursday after a diesel-laden tanker exploded along the Badagry Expressway, leading to a temporary traffic shutdown around the Oto-Ijanikin axis of Lagos.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said the incident occurred close to the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), inward Agbara, and involved a Mack truck transporting diesel.
According to LASTMA, initial security findings indicated that excessive speeding was responsible for the crash. The tanker driver was said to have lost control while attempting to overtake another motorist, resulting in a collision that triggered a fire outbreak.
The ensuing inferno claimed the lives of the driver and an adult female passenger.
LASTMA officers on routine traffic surveillance in the area swiftly arrived at the scene, cordoning off the affected section of the expressway to avert further accidents. The agency also contacted emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (Ojo Unit), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Ijanikin Police Division.
Officials further prevented members of the public from scooping diesel spilled from the wreckage.
Emergency responders later brought the fire under control, after which LASTMA evacuated the burnt tanker to ease traffic congestion. The remains of the deceased were subsequently removed by officials of the FRSC.
Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sadness over the loss of lives and sympathised with the families of the victims, describing the tragedy as especially painful during the festive season.
He cautioned tanker and articulated vehicle drivers to strictly observe speed limits and traffic rules, noting that speeding and reckless driving remain major causes of fatal accidents in Lagos.
Mr. Bakare-Oki also warned members of the public against the dangerous act of scooping petroleum and diesel products from accident scenes, stressing that such behaviour poses grave risks to lives and public safety.
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