The driver and an adult female passenger inside the truck were trapped and did not survive, according to authorities at the scene.
No fewer than two people have reportedly killed in a tanker explosion in the early hours of Thursday at the Oto-Ijanikin axis of the Badagry Expressway, Lagos, near the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), SaharaReporters has learnt.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident, saying the Mack Truck, which was transporting diesel inward Agbara, suddenly lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle, a move officials say was caused by reckless speeding.
The tanker crashed and immediately went up in flames.
The driver and an adult female passenger inside the truck were trapped and did not survive, according to authorities at the scene.
LASTMA officers stationed along the corridor reportedly raced to the site, cordoned off the area, and alerted the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Ijanikin Police Division for backup.
In a statement, LASTMA said its operatives also stopped residents who had rushed to the scene with containers to scoop the spilled diesel, a dangerous trend seen at similar incidents across the country.
“Such actions are extremely hazardous and can trigger further explosions and avoidable deaths,” LASTMA stated, stressing that their quick intervention prevented a larger disaster.
Emergency responders eventually put out the fire, and the burnt truck was removed from the expressway to avoid further accidents. The FRSC handled the recovery of the victims.
LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki expressed sadness over the tragedy, offering condolences to the families of the deceased, a loss he described as painful and avoidable, especially during the festive period.
Bakare-Oki warned tanker and articulated vehicle drivers to stop ignoring speed limits and traffic regulations, noting that overspeeding remains a major cause of deadly crashes in Lagos.
He also issued a strong warning to residents, calling fuel scooping at accident scenes “dangerous and irresponsible,” and insisting that it endangers both lives and public safety.
The explosion caused major traffic disruption along the busy corridor, with authorities advising road users to expect delays as clearing operations continue.