A petrol tanker fully loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) overturned and went up in flames at Iyana Isolo area of Lagos State on Sunday at about 2:30pm.
Eyewitness said that the tanker lost control due to over speeding while navigating the inward Oshodi corridor.
He stated that the crash triggered a massive fire outbreak that spread to no fewer than four trucks parked nearby.
Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), in a statement, said that its operational command quickly mobilized emergency responders to contain the situation.
The Agency stated that the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force from Aswani, Ilasa, and Mushin divisions, and officers of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps joined forces to battle the inferno and prevent further escalation.
Meanwhile, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, confirmed that additional personnel from adjoining zones were deployed to support the operation. He expressed relief that no lives were lost, attributing it to LASTMA’s swift action in cordoning off the area and diverting traffic from Ilasa inward Oshodi.
Bakare-Oki cautioned drivers of tankers, articulated vehicles, and other heavy-duty trucks against reckless driving and overspeeding, stressing that strict adherence to speed limits and traffic regulations is non-negotiable.
He also urged members of the public to take advantage of LASTMA’s toll-free hotline — 080000527862 — to report emergencies or traffic-related incidents for prompt intervention.
“The preservation of lives, protection of property, and the promotion of safe and orderly transportation remain the priority of LASTMA,” Bakare-Oki assured.
