An unspecified number of people have reportedly lost their lives after a tanker fire erupted along the Abeokuta–Sagamu expressway.
The incident was said to have occurred in the early hours of Friday.
Punch reports that Babatunde Akinbiyi, spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), said a 33,000-litre petrol-laden tanker overturned due to excessive speeding, spilling its contents on the highway and triggering a fire outbreak.
“The case of an inferno caused by a 30,000-litre fuel-laden tanker which fell on its side and spilled its contents around 0100hrs today, along the Abeokuta–Kobape–Siun–Sagamu Interchange stretch of the PMB Expressway, due to excessive speed and loss of control, has been reported,” Akinbiyi said.
He added that the fire spread to other vehicles and electric poles, burning a truck and a tow vehicle, and destroying a PHCN cable supplying electricity to Mowe and its environs.
“Though the casualty figures cannot be ascertained presently, rescue and emergency services made up of TRACE, Ogun State and Nestlé PLC Fire Service, FRSC, and the Police are still on the ground to restore normalcy and orderliness after quenching the fire and carrying out the decantation process,” he said.
He added that traffic within the corridor has been diverted to a single lane due to ongoing rescue operations.
Akinbiyi urged motorists to cooperate with emergency responders and remain patient during the diversion.
“The general public, particularly the motoring public on transit along the route, is implored to be calm, patient, and cooperate with the diversion and re-routing of traffic put in place by TRACE, Police, Ogun State Fire Service, FRSC, Amotekun, and the NSCDC,” he said.
“However, any inconveniences as a result of this unfortunate incident are highly regretted.”
