Commuters, motorists and transport workers plying Apakun Bridge, Iyana Isolo, in the Oshodi area of Lagos State, were thrown into panic after a petrol-laden tanker exploded on Thursday.
It was gathered that the tanker driver was conveying 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) to a destination in the state when he suddenly lost control of the vehicle, which overturned around 9.30am.
It was learnt that the petrol spilled on the road.
Commuters and business owners were seen scampering for safety, as the vicinity was engulfed in flames after the tanker exploded.
The Director General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the incident.
He said, “Responders are at the scene to extinguish the fire. Motorists are to use alternative routes.”
In a follow-up reaction, Oke-Osanyintolu said the fire had been put off and the tanker removed from the road.
“The bridge remains closed to vehicular traffic and has been subjected to integrity test by the Federal Ministry of Works. Residents are urged to exercise caution as the product, while diluted with chemical treatments, is still at risk of being ignited by naked flame,” he added.
The Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Transportation, Bolanle Ogunlola, in a statement on Thursday, urged motorists to drive with consideration for other road users.
According to the statement, the state Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, during an on-the-spot assessment of the scene, said, “The explosion was caused by collision of a fully loaded petrol tanker with another truck while trying to overtake each other along the corridor. The recovered tanker head will be used to track the owner/company and necessary sanctions meted out to the offenders.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the explosion caused gridlock, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, joined in clearing the obstruction.
