A tanker driver died alongside a female occupant on Thursday in an explosion after losing control of the vehicle due to high speed at Oto-Ijanikin, along the Badagry Expressway, in Agbara, Lagos State.

Spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, in a statement, said the driver, was trying trying to overtake another motorist when his vehicle crashed and went up in flames.

Mr Adebayo said, “The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) announces with profound regret a fatal and distressing tanker explosion involving a Mack truck conveying diesel, which occurred in the early hours of today at the Oto-Ijanikin axis, in the vicinity of the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), inward Agbara, along the Badagry Expressway, Lagos.

“Preliminary findings from security investigations indicate that the unfortunate incident was precipitated by excessive speed, as the tanker driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle while attempting to overtake another road user. The vehicle subsequently crashed and erupted into a raging inferno, tragically trapping and claiming the lives of the driver and an adult female occupant.”

Mr Adebayo said LASTMA personnel managing vehicular movement within the corridor, upon arrival at the scene, cordoned off the affected stretch of the expressway to prevent another incident.

He added that the LASTMA officials also notified the Ojo unit of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, and the Ijanikin Police Division for urgent emergency response and security reinforcement.

He further stated that the LASTMA personnel prevented members of the public who had approached the scene with assorted containers from scooping the spilled diesel which could have triggered further explosions and avoidable fatalities.

“Following the successful containment of the blaze and clearance by relevant authorities, the severely burnt tanker was evacuated from the expressway by LASTMA personnel to prevent further road mishaps along the busy transport corridor while remains of burnt bodies were removed by FRSC,” he added.

Extending condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who described the accident as deeply painful, stressed the importance of tanker and articulated vehicle drivers showing caution, observing prescribed speed limits and complying with all traffic regulations.

He also cautioned members of the public against the dangerous practice of scooping petroleum products from accident scenes, emphasizing that such conduct poses grave and far-reaching risks to both individuals and the general public.