By Huldah Shado
A fuel-laden tanker exploded on Sunday afternoon along the busy Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in the Iyana-Isolo area of Lagos, causing panic, heavy traffic gridlock, and destruction of vehicles.
The tanker, reportedly carrying diesel, lost control while the driver attempted to park near the Iyana-Isolo bus stop. It veered into a commercial bus, plunged into a roadside gutter, and burst into flames, triggering a massive fire that engulfed a container truck, a flatbed trailer, and parts of the expressway.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as terrifying, with commuters scrambling for safety. The tanker driver and a co-passenger sustained injuries and were quickly evacuated by first responders.
Video footage circulating on social media showed the driver lying motionless on the road shortly after the blast.
Emergency agencies, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the police, and Ikeja Electric officials, were mobilized to the scene.
Firefighters battled the raging inferno, while officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), diverted traffic to alternative routes as the expressway was cordoned off.
LASTMA confirmed that multiple vehicles were affected, including the tanker, a container-laden truck, a flatbed trailer, and a commercial bus. Despite the scale of destruction, no fatalities were recorded.
Vice Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Tunbosun Haruna, who visited the scene, commended the swift response of emergency agencies.
He assured motorists that efforts were underway to restore normalcy, noting that the gridlock had stretched as far as Ijesha before traffic was gradually eased.
Authorities have urged motorists and residents to avoid the area until the fire is completely extinguished and the highway cleared for safe passage.
