A serious accident was narrowly avoided on Sunday after a petroleum tanker caught fire on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway at Iyana-Isolo.
According to officials, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) responded swiftly to distress calls and successfully contained the inferno before it spread to other vehicles and roadside structures.
Eyewitnesses reported panic in the area as the tanker, fully loaded with fuel, went up in flames on the busy carriageway. Traffic was immediately diverted while emergency responders worked to prevent an explosion.
The Director of LSFRS, Margaret Adeseye, confirmed that fire crews deployed multiple appliances and chemical foam to suppress the blaze. She noted that the timely intervention prevented what could have become a mass-casualty disaster in one of Lagos’s busiest traffic corridors.
“No lives were lost and the fire has been completely put out,” Adeseye said, urging motorists to maintain caution and adhere to safety protocols when transporting flammable products.
The incident, which caused heavy traffic gridlock for several hours, highlights ongoing safety concerns about the frequent movement of petroleum tankers on Lagos roads.
Authorities say investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the fire.
