A gas tanker caught fire near Abaranje Road in Lagos State’s Ikotun region early Thursday, but no disaster occurred.
Olawale Afolabi, spokesperson for the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, said in a statement on Thursday that the incident occurred at the Ola Farm Bus Stop and was quickly contained by emergency responders, with no fatalities or injuries reported.
Afolabi stated that the agency’s reaction team arrived to find the tanker engulfed in flames and that preliminary findings indicated that the tanker was traveling at high speeds when it collided with a road bump, causing the driver to lose control.
“Initial findings indicate that the vehicle was traveling at speed when it struck a road bump.
“The impact caused the driver to lose control, which led to a tire burst and an immediate fire outbreak,” the statement read.
Afolabi stated that LASEMA officers collaborated closely with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service to extinguish the fire, protect the area, and keep the inferno from spreading to surrounding residences, businesses, and other road users.
He went on to say that officials from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the Federal Road Safety Corps, and Nigeria Police personnel from the Ikotun Division handled traffic and crowd control during the operation.
“We are grateful to report that there was no loss of life, and no casualties were recorded. The situation has been brought under control, and the fire fully extinguished,” he stated.
The spokeswoman stated that attempts were underway to remove the charred tanker from the road and that heavy-duty equipment had been sent to remove the vehicle and restore normal traffic flow.
Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, encouraged motorists to follow speed restrictions, particularly around speed bumps and residential areas.
“We use this opportunity to remind all motorists of the importance of adhering to speed limits, particularly around designated bumps and in residential corridors. Such caution saves lives and protects property,” he said.
He emphasized the agency’s commitment to disaster preparedness, swift emergency response, and public safety throughout Lagos State, while also thanking all responding agencies and communities for their assistance during the operation.
Oke-Osanyintolu further asked the public to report emergencies as soon as possible by dialing 112 or 767, the state’s toll-free emergency numbers.
