A petrol tanker accident in Ogun State has sparked a massive fire, with several people feared dead.
Gatekeepers News reports that the incident happened around 1 a.m. on Friday along the Abeokuta–Sagamu expressway.
Babatunde Akinbiyi, spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), confirmed that the crash involved a 33,000-litre tanker.
He explained that the vehicle, which was loaded with petrol, lost control at high speed, overturned, and spilled its contents, causing an inferno.
Akinbiyi said, “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 fire spread quickly, engulfing nearby vehicles, electric poles, a truck, and a tow vehicle, while also destroying a PHCN cable that supplies power to Mowe and surrounding areas.
Akinbiyi noted that the casualty figure could not yet be confirmed, as rescue operations were still ongoing. He said teams from TRACE, the Ogun State Fire Service, Nestlé PLC Fire Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Police were on the ground working to contain the situation and restore normalcy.
Traffic along the affected route has been diverted to a single lane, with officials urging motorists to remain patient.
Akinbiyi added, “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.”
He expressed regret over the inconveniences caused by the accident.
