The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed the death of two persons in a tanker explosion along Badagry Expressway.
Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, General Manager, LASTMA, said this in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.
He said the tanker explosion which involved a Mack Truck conveying diesel occurred in the early hours of Thursday at the Oto – Ijanikin axis, in the vicinity of the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), inward Agbara, along the Lagos – Badagry Expressway.
Bakare-Oki said preliminary findings attributed the incident to speed, leading to the tanker driver to lost control of the vehicle while attempting to overtake another road user.
“The vehicle subsequently crashed and erupted into a raging inferno, tragically trapping and claiming the lives of the driver and an adult female occupant”, he said.
Bakare-Oki said personnel of the agency, who were actively monitoring and managing vehicular movement within the corridor swiftly secured and cordoned off the affected stretch of the expressway to forestall secondary incidents.
He said the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (Ojo Unit), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Ijanikin Police Division were promptly notified for urgent emergency response and security reinforcement.
“In a further demonstration of vigilance and unwavering commitment to public safety, LASTMA operatives prevented members of the public who had converged on the scene with assorted containers from scooping the spilled diesel.
“This is an extremely hazardous act capable of triggering further explosions and avoidable fatalities.
“This timely intervention effectively averted a potential escalation of the tragedy prior to the arrival of other emergencies and security agencies,” he said.
He said that following the successful containment of the blaze and clearance by relevant authorities, the burnt tanker was evacuated from the expressway by LASTMA personnel while remains of burnt bodies were removed by FRSC.
Bakare-Oki expressed deep sorrow and extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, particularly poignant during this festive season.
He described the incident as deeply painful and entirely avoidable, reaffirming the authority’s steadfast commitment to road safety and the sanctity of lives.
The manager further underscored the need for tanker and articulated vehicle drivers to exercise caution, observe prescribed speed limits and comply strictly with all traffic regulations.
“Reckless driving and speeding remain dominant factors in fatal road traffic crashes across the metropolis,” he said.
In a related development, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said that seven men sustained various degrees of burns in the Wednesday fire incident at 22-storey building of Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) House in Lagos.
Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr Oke- Osanyitolu, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.
Oke-Osanyitolu added that three male and two female victims who suffered smoke inhalation were treated with first aid at the scene, and discharged after stabilisation.
He said that the fire has now been contained through combined efforts of emergency responders, after spreading to a nearby mosque and parts of the Oluwole Plaza.
He said that adjoining buildings in close proximity to the high-rise structure, were largely salvaged, while coordinated efforts continue to ensure the fire is fully extinguished.
According to him, the intensity of heat and smoke at the scene has reduced significantly due to sustained response operations.
He said that the seven-storey building of Radio Nigeria located opposite the scene of incident, was safely extinguished, adding that dampening-down operations were ongoing.
According to him, a section of the Oluwole Plaza which was affected by the fire, has also been brought under control, with most goods and stalls in the building salvaged.
The Permanent Secretary said that recovery operations were ongoing and assured that further updates will be provided as the situation develops.
Meanwhile, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has urged residents of the state to remain calm following the fire incident.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, said in a statement on Thursday that no casualty was recorded in the incident, while the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.
Omotoso said that the governor, who had been personally monitoring the situation since the incident was reported, immediately directed the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, to intensify response efforts and ensure evacuation of adjoining buildings.
According to him, the distress call was received at about 4:41 p.m., prompting an immediate response from fire crews at the Ebute Elefun and Dolphin Fire Stations, with reinforcement from the Sari Iganmu Fire Station and the Alausa Headquarters.
“The firefighters arrived at the scene within 12 minutes, at about 4:53 p.m., and commenced coordinated containment operations,” he said.
He added that preliminary reports indicated that the fire started from the fifth floor of the building before spreading to other levels.
The commissioner explained that the affected structure, which was formerly used as corporate office space, currently serves mainly as a warehouse and retail outlet for clothing materials.
Omotoso said that the governor remained in constant communication with emergency responders and security agencies well into the early hours of the morning.
“As at 3:40 a.m., when the fire had largely been brought under control, the governor was still receiving updates and issuing directives.
“Our priority is the safety of lives; I have directed that the building and its surroundings be thoroughly secured, and that emergency personnel must ensure that no one is left inside,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu also commended firefighters and first responders for their swift and courageous response, assuring Lagosians that the situation is under control.
“Lagosians should remain calm; The situation is under control,” he said.
Omotoso added that security agencies had been deployed to cordon off the area, while first responders continued safety assessments to prevent any secondary incidents.
He assured residents that the Lagos State Government remains fully on top of the situation and would provide further updates as necessary.
