An unconfirmed number of people are feared dead after a tanker fire accident in the early hours of Friday along the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway.
Spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, said that the fire started around 1 am after a petrol-laden 33,000-litre tanker overturned due to excessive speeding and spilled its contents on the highway.
He said the impact of the crash sparked a fire that spread to other vehicles and nearby electric poles.
Akinbiyi explained, “The case of an inferno caused by a 30,000-litre fuel-laden tanker which fell on its side and spilled its contents around 0100hrs today, along the Abeokuta–Kobape–Siun–Sagamu Interchange stretch of the PMB Expressway, due to excessive speed and loss of control, has been reported.
“The effect of the unfortunate incident also extended to the burning of a truck and a tow vehicle along the roadside, as well as the destruction of a PHCN cable supplying electricity to Mowe and environs.
“Though the casualty figures cannot be ascertained presently, rescue and emergency services made up of TRACE, Ogun State and Nestlé PLC Fire Service, FRSC, and the Police are still on the ground to restore normalcy and orderliness after quenching the fire and carrying out the decantation process.”
He added that traffic along the corridor has been diverted to a single lane due to ongoing rescue operations.
Akinbiyi appealed for cooperation from road users: “The general public, particularly the motoring public on transit along the route, is implored to be calm, patient, and cooperate with the diversion and re-routing of traffic put in place by TRACE, Police, Ogun State Fire Service, FRSC, Amotekun, and the NSCDC.
“However, any inconveniences as a result of this unfortunate incident are highly regretted.”
Tanker fire accidents have been a recurring tragedy in Nigeria. In October 2024, a similar incident at the Ibafo section of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway claimed one life and destroyed several vehicles. In July 2025, another tanker explosion in Ibadan, caused by brake failure, left widespread damage though casualties were not fully confirmed.
These frequent accidents highlight ongoing challenges with road safety, regulation of fuel transport, and timely emergency response.