Fiery Tanker Blast Claims Two Lives on Key Lagos–Badagry Trade Route
Two people were killed on Thursday December 25, 2025, after a diesel tanker exploded along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway, a vital commercial artery linking Nigeria to neighbouring West African countries, officials have confirmed.
The fatal incident occurred at the Oto-Ijanikin axis, close to the Lagos State University of Education, when the tanker reportedly lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle.
The crash triggered a powerful fire that engulfed the truck, trapping and killing the driver and an adult female occupant.
According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), preliminary findings from security investigations suggest that excessive speed was a major factor in the accident.
Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at LASTMA, said the vehicle veered off course during the overtaking manoeuvre before bursting into flames.
Emergency responders from LASTMA swiftly secured the affected stretch of the expressway to prevent further accidents and notified the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Ijanikin Police Division for coordinated emergency response.
In a critical safety intervention, officials prevented members of the public from attempting to scoop spilled diesel from the scene—an опасous practice that has previously resulted in secondary explosions and mass casualties in similar incidents.
Following the containment of the fire, the severely burnt tanker was evacuated to ease traffic disruption, while the remains of the deceased were recovered by the FRSC.
Expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy, LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki described the incident as “deeply painful and entirely avoidable.”
He urged drivers of tankers and articulated vehicles to adhere strictly to speed limits and traffic regulations, while warning the public against approaching accident scenes involving petroleum products.
The Lagos–Badagry Expressway, a major logistics and trade corridor, has witnessed a series of deadly accidents in recent years, underscoring ongoing concerns over road safety and heavy-duty vehicle operations in Nigeria’s bustling megacity.
