Seventeen people have been rescued after a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered commercial bus caught fire following a reported gas explosion along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, leaving one passenger with severe burn injuries.
Gatekeepers News reports that the incident occurred on Wednesday at Berger Bus Stop on the Lagos-bound section of the expressway, involving a fully loaded Toyota Hiace bus with registration number EKY 798 YK.
According to Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the vehicle was conveying 18 occupants, including the driver, from the Mowe-Ibafo axis towards Lagos when it suddenly caught fire, causing panic among passengers and other motorists.
LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, said its operatives promptly mobilised to the scene and rescued 17 occupants, including the driver, without injuries.
However, one male passenger seated at the rear of the vehicle sustained severe burns during the incident.
He was immediately evacuated to the Lagos State Trauma and Emergency Centre at Toll Gate for urgent medical attention.
Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service also deployed personnel and firefighting equipment to extinguish the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby vehicles.
Meanwhile, officers of Ojodu Police Division provided security and maintained order at the scene throughout the rescue and firefighting operations.
Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, commended the agency’s personnel and other emergency responders for their swift intervention.
He urged commercial transport operators, particularly those using CNG-powered vehicles, to prioritise regular professional inspections, proper maintenance and compliance with prescribed safety standards.
He also stressed the need for adequate maintenance of gas storage and delivery systems to reduce the risk of similar incidents.
The incident has renewed attention on safety measures surrounding the operation and maintenance of CNG-powered commercial vehicles.
