A petrol tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) burst into flames on Sunday at Iyana-Isolo, en route to Oshodi, Lagos, sparking panic among motorists and residents along the busy corridor.
The tanker reportedly overturned while in motion before exploding, with the inferno consuming at least four nearby trucks. Eyewitnesses said the incident could have resulted in a major disaster but for the swift intervention of emergency responders.
Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), supported by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, police divisions from Aswani, Ilasa and Mushin, and the Neighbourhood Safety Corps, quickly mobilised to the scene.
LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, confirmed that the fire was successfully brought under control after personnel cordoned off the area and diverted traffic. He noted that reinforcements from adjoining zones were also deployed to boost the operation.
Bakare-Oki expressed relief that no lives were lost, attributing the outcome to effective inter-agency coordination. He, however, cautioned tanker and heavy-duty vehicle drivers against reckless speeding, which preliminary findings linked to the crash.
He further urged Lagos residents to use LASTMA’s toll-free hotline (080000527862) to report traffic emergencies, assuring that the agency remains equipped to respond swiftly.
“LASTMA is committed to safeguarding lives and property while ensuring safe and sustainable traffic management across Lagos State,” Bakare-Oki said.