Houses, vehicles burnt as petrol tanker explodes on Lagos-Ibadan expressway

A petrol-laden tanker exploded in the Ibafo axis of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Wednesday.

The explosion triggered a fire which destroyed vehicles and houses. Some persons reportedly sustained injuries from the ensuing conflagration.

Punch quoted one eyewitness as saying that the fire started when the tanker overturned in front of a commercial bank.

The respondent blamed the tanker driver’s recklessness for the incident.

“What I saw was that the tanker was swaying before it fell and split its contents into the drainage. It didn’t catch fire immediately, as some hoodlums had started scooping the fuel,” the eyewitness said.

“However, after a few minutes, fire struck from the other side of the expressway, and it escalated. Four tipper trucks parked on the premises of Osadol Fuel Station were destroyed.

“I also learned that the fire extended into the community close to the expressway.

“It was a serious incident, but thank God the drainage had been constructed; otherwise, the damage would have been much worse.

“The fire injured about three people and damaged buildings. Those affected were mostly people living close to where the drainage construction ends.”

Spokespersons of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Ogun police command were not immediately available for comments.

On Tuesday, more than 90 people died after a petrol tanker exploded in Jigawa.