A TRAGIC tanker explosion along the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway in Ogun State has left an unconfirmed number of people feared dead and several vehicles destroyed, authorities said Friday.
News Point Nigeria reports that the incident occurred around 1am on Friday when a petrol-laden 33,000-litre tanker overturned while negotiating the Abeokuta–Kobape–Siun–Sagamu Interchange stretch of the expressway.
Confirming the accident, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, said the driver of the ill-fated tanker was reportedly speeding excessively before losing control, causing the tanker to fall on its side and spill its highly flammable contents across the road.
The spillage immediately ignited, sparking a massive fire that spread rapidly, engulfing nearby vehicles, including a truck and a tow vehicle, and damaging electricity infrastructure.
“The inferno extended to the destruction of a PHCN cable that supplies electricity to Mowe and environs. Though the casualty figures cannot be ascertained presently, rescue and emergency services are on ground to restore normalcy after quenching the fire and carrying out the decantation process,” Akinbiyi explained.
Emergency responders from TRACE, the Ogun State Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police, Amotekun Corps, the NSCDC, and firefighters from Nestlé PLC were mobilised to the scene.
Their efforts prevented the fire from spreading to nearby communities, though thick smoke blanketed the area for hours.
Traffic along the busy corridor has since been diverted to a single lane, with authorities pleading for calm and cooperation from motorists.
“The general public, particularly those transiting along the route, are implored to be patient and cooperate with emergency responders as diversions and re-routing of traffic are in place.
“Any inconveniences caused by this unfortunate incident are highly regretted,” Akinbiyi added.
As of press time, casualty figures remained unclear, but eyewitnesses told News Point Nigeria that several passengers and roadside traders may have been caught in the flames. Some victims were reportedly rushed to nearby hospitals with severe burns.
This latest tragedy adds to the long list of fatal tanker accidents across Nigeria, underscoring persistent safety concerns in the transportation of petroleum products.
In October 2024, a similar tanker fire at the Ibafo axis of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway killed one person and destroyed several vehicles. In July 2025, another tanker explosion in Ibadan following brake failure also caused widespread panic and damage.
Safety experts have repeatedly blamed these incidents on poor regulation of fuel transportation, weak road safety enforcement, and the lack of rapid-response systems to contain such disasters.