SAGAMU – A catastrophic fire explosion from an overturned fuel tanker has claimed an unconfirmed number of lives in the early hours of Friday along the busy Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway.
The incident, which occurred around 1 a.m., involved a 33,000-litre petrol tanker. According to officials, the tanker was travelling at excessive speed when it overturned, spilling its highly flammable contents onto the highway and triggering a massive fireball.
Babatunde Akinbiyi, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), confirmed the details of the accident. He stated that the resulting inferno was devastating, consuming not only the tanker but also a truck, a tow vehicle, and a section of a critical Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) cable.
The damage to the power infrastructure has disrupted the electricity supply to Mowe and its neighbouring communities.
“Though casualty figures cannot be ascertained presently, rescue and emergency services are on the ground,” Akinbiyi told reporters. The response effort includes personnel from TRACE, the Ogun State Fire Service, the Nestlé PLC Fire Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigeria Police Force.
Akinbiyi confirmed that the fire has been extinguished and a decantation process—transferring the remaining fuel from the overturned tanker—has been carried out to prevent further danger.
Authorities have appealed for calm and patience from motorists, advising them to adhere to the traffic diversions and re-routing measures implemented at the scene. The joint operation includes officials from TRACE, the Police, Ogun State Fire Service, FRSC, Amotekun, and the NSCDC.
“Any inconveniences as a result of this unfortunate incident are highly regretted,” Akinbiyi added.
The road is expected to remain partially closed as cleanup and preliminary investigations continue.
