An unconfirmed number of people have reportedly died in a tanker fire accident that occurred around midnight on the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway.
The fire started at about 1 a.m. after a 33,000-litre petrol tanker overturned due to excessive speeding, spilling its contents along the highway. The impact triggered a fire that spread to nearby vehicles and electric poles.
The tanker fell on its side near the Abeokuta–Kobape–Siun–Sagamu Interchange stretch of the expressway, causing a massive inferno. The blaze also engulfed a truck and a tow vehicle parked along the roadside and destroyed an electricity cable supplying power to the Mowe area.
Rescue and emergency teams, including traffic enforcement, fire services, road safety officials, and the police, are currently on the scene working to extinguish the fire, manage the situation, and carry out fuel decantation operations. Traffic in the area has been diverted to a single lane to allow emergency response efforts.
Motorists are urged to remain calm, patient, and comply with traffic diversions put in place by authorities. Any inconvenience caused by the incident is regretted.
Tanker fire accidents have occurred repeatedly in Nigeria, often resulting in tragic consequences. Recent incidents include a tanker fire along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in October 2024, which claimed a life and destroyed vehicles and goods, and a petrol tanker explosion in Ibadan in July 2025 after brake failure.
These recurring tragedies underscore ongoing challenges with road safety, fuel transportation regulations, emergency response times, and public safety awareness around fuel spills.
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