An unspecified number of people are feared dead after a tanker fire accident occurred along the Abeokuta–Sagamu expressway.
The incident happened around 1 a.m. on Friday.
According to Punch, Babatunde Akinbiyi, spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), explained that a 33,000-litre petrol tanker lost control due to excessive speeding, overturned, and spilled its contents on the road, which led to 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 noted that the fire spread to other vehicles and nearby facilities, burning a truck and a tow vehicle, and also damaging a PHCN cable that supplies power to Mowe and surrounding areas.
“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 further stated that traffic along the corridor has been restricted to a single lane while rescue operations continue.
Akinbiyi appealed to road users to remain calm and cooperate with officials managing the situation.
“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.”