A yet-to-be-confirmed number of persons have lost their lives in a tanker fire accident that occurred at midnight on Friday along the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway.
The spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed that the fire began around 1 a.m. after a 33,000-litre petrol-laden tanker overturned due to excessive speeding and spilled its contents on the highway.
According to him, the impact of the fall triggered a fire outbreak that quickly spread to other vehicles and electricity poles in the area.
“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,” Akinbiyi stated.
He noted that while casualty figures were yet to be determined, rescue and emergency services comprising TRACE, Ogun State Fire Service, Nestlé PLC Fire Service, FRSC, and the Police were on the ground to restore normalcy after extinguishing the fire and commencing decantation of the remaining fuel.
Akinbiyi added that traffic along the corridor has been diverted to a single lane to ease movement, urging motorists to remain calm and 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,” he said.
This latest tragedy adds to a long list of recurring tanker fire incidents in Nigeria. In October 2024, a tanker fire along the Ibafo section of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway claimed one life and destroyed several vehicles. Similarly, in July 2025, a petrol tanker explosion in Ibadan caused by brake failure engulfed vehicles, though casualties were not widely confirmed.
Analysts say such incidents highlight systemic lapses in road safety enforcement, regulation of fuel transportation, emergency response coordination, and risky public behaviour around fuel spills.