The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has expressed deep regret over a fatal tanker explosion involving a Mack truck laden with diesel, which occurred in the early hours of today at the Oto-Ijanikin axis, near the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), inward Agbara, along the Badagry Expressway, Lagos.
Preliminary security investigations revealed that the incident was caused by overspeeding. The tanker driver reportedly lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle, resulting in a crash that triggered a massive fire outbreak. The inferno tragically claimed the lives of the driver and an adult female passenger who were trapped inside the vehicle.
LASTMA officers on active traffic monitoring duty responded swiftly and professionally, immediately cordoning off the affected section of the expressway to prevent further accidents. Emergency agencies, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (Ojo Unit), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Ijanikin Police Division, were promptly alerted for coordinated response and security support.
Demonstrating heightened vigilance and commitment to public safety, LASTMA operatives also prevented members of the public who had gathered at the scene with containers from scooping the spilt diesel—a hazardous act that could have led to additional explosions and loss of life. This timely action helped avert a possible escalation of the tragedy before the arrival of other emergency responders.
After the fire was successfully extinguished and the scene declared safe by relevant authorities, LASTMA personnel evacuated the burnt tanker from the expressway to prevent further traffic hazards. The remains of the deceased victims were recovered and removed by the FRSC.
Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed profound sorrow and extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, noting the painful nature of the loss, especially during the festive season.
He described the incident as tragic yet avoidable, reaffirming LASTMA’s unwavering commitment to road safety and the protection of human life. Mr. Bakare-Oki urged tanker and articulated vehicle drivers to exercise greater caution, adhere strictly to speed limits, and comply with all traffic regulations, stressing that reckless driving and overspeeding remain leading causes of fatal road crashes in Lagos.
He also warned the public against the dangerous and irresponsible practice of scooping petroleum or diesel products from accident scenes, emphasizing that such actions pose serious risks to individuals and the wider community.
