Many Feared Dead in Ogun Tanker Explosion

A fuel tanker explosion on the Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway in the weehours hours of Friday has reportedly left several people dead.

The horrific incident occurred around 1:00 am, according to Babatunde Akinbiyi, spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE).

Akinbiyi reported that a 33,000-liter petrol tanker overturned due to excessive speeding, spilling its contents across the highway.

The resulting impact ignited a massive fire, which quickly engulfed other nearby vehicles and even electric poles.

Akinbiyi said: “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 due to the ongoing rescue efforts, traffic within the corridor has been diverted to a single lane.

The spokesperson urged motorists in the area to cooperate with emergency responders.

“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,” Akinbiyi said.

Nigeria has witnessed a disturbing trend of tanker fire incidents, which have recurrently had devastating outcomes.

Persecondnews recalls that in October 2024, a tanker fire along the Ibafo section of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway claimed one life and destroyed multiple vehicles and goods.

Similarly, in July 2025, a petrol tanker explosion in Ibadan after brake failure was reported, affecting nearby vehicles, though casualties were not widely confirmed.

In most of these incidents, reports often showed that the delayed emergency response was a factor in exacerbating the damage and losses.