The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has confirmed that two persons were killed, while 13 vehicles were razed as fuel – laden tanker exploded at Ogere on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Tuesday.
The FRSC Sector Commander in Ogun, Mr. Ahmed Umar, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident occurred at about 6.20 a.m. in front of Romona trailer park on the expressway.
“The fire is serious, six tankers, five trucks and two cars were burnt in the explosion”, he said.
He said that one person was rescued and taken to a private hospital in Ogere.
The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) spokesman, Babatunde Akinbiyi explained that the fuel-tanker suddenly burst into flames and engulfed other vehicles.
Akinbiyi said: “Vehicles moving inbound Lagos should go through Saapade-Ode/Remo-Iperu-Sagamu to relink Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
“In addition, vehicles moving inbound Ibadan should also go through Sagamu-Iperu-Ode/Remo-Saapade to relink Lagos-Ibadan expressway,’’ Akinbiyi said.
The NAN reports that the incident was the fifth of such tragedies involving fuel tankers in the Lagos and Ogun State axis since the beginning of the year.
A similar fuel tanker-related fire was recorded on Jan. 7 on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.
On March 21, a fuel tanker was the cause of the fire on Otedola Bridge, also on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in which many vehicles were burnt.
On March 25, a diesel-laden tanker went up in flames at the Ikotun area of Lagos, leading to the incineration of other vehicles and shops.
On June 17, a fire from the kitchen of a Chinese restaurant at the Ogun State Property Investments Corporation (OPIC) Plaza in Lagos trailed a leaking gas truck that was on motion in the area. SOURCE: NAN.