By Obinna Uballa
A petrol tanker explosion in the early hours of Friday has left an unconfirmed number of people dead and several vehicles destroyed along the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway in Ogun State.
The spokesperson of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Mr. Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Abeokuta.
According to him, the accident occurred at about 1:00 a.m. on the Abeokuta–Kobape–Siun–Sagamu Interchange axis of the highway when a 33,000-litre fuel tanker, speeding excessively, lost control, overturned and spilled its contents, sparking a massive fire.
“The inferno extended to a truck and a tow vehicle parked by the roadside, as well as a PHCN cable supplying electricity to Mowe and its environs,” Akinbiyi said.
He noted that the casualty figure could not yet be determined.
Rescue teams from TRACE, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun State Fire Service, Nestlé Fire Service, the Police, Amotekun Corps, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were immediately deployed to contain the fire, commence decantation and manage traffic.
Akinbiyi appealed to motorists to remain calm and comply with diversion and rerouting instructions while emergency responders worked to restore normalcy.
“Any inconveniences as a result of this unfortunate incident are highly regretted,” he added.
