Two Dead in Diesel Tanker Explosion on Badagry Expressway as LASTMA Prevents Further Tragedy

Two Dead in Diesel Tanker Explosion on Badagry Expressway as LASTMA Prevents Further Tragedy

Lagos – Two people have tragically lost their lives in a diesel tanker explosion along the Badagry Expressway, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed. The incident occurred in the early hours of today at the Oto-Ijanikin axis near the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), inbound toward Agbara.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the tanker, a Mack Truck carrying diesel, lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle at high speed. The truck subsequently crashed and erupted into flames, claiming the lives of the driver and an adult female passenger.

LASTMA officers on duty at the corridor responded swiftly, securing the area and preventing bystanders from scooping spilled diesel, a dangerous act that could have caused further explosions. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (Ojo Unit), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and Ijanikin Police Division were promptly alerted and arrived to assist in emergency response and containment.

Once the fire was extinguished, the severely burnt tanker was cleared from the expressway, while FRSC personnel recovered the remains of the victims.

In a statement, LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki expressed deep sorrow and extended condolences to the families of the deceased, noting that the incident was entirely avoidable. He reiterated the Authority’s commitment to road safety and urged tanker and articulated vehicle drivers to observe speed limits and adhere strictly to traffic regulations.

Bakare-Oki also warned the public against scooping fuel from accident scenes, stressing that such reckless behavior poses grave risks to individuals and the wider community.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority continues to enforce strict safety measures across the metropolis to prevent similar tragedies.