Tanker explosion : Lagos warns motorists against reckless driving

▪︎Urges road users to drive with caution

Following the explosion of a tanker loaded to capacity with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at Toyota Bus Stop on Oshodi – Mile 2 expressway on Thursday, the Lagos State Government has warned motorists against reckless driving in order to avoid accidents or situations that could pose a threat to other road users.

Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederick Oladeinde, who gave the warning during his impromptu visit to the scene of the accident to assess the impact on road infrastructure and traffic flow, disclosed that the explosion was caused by the collision of the fully-loaded petrol tanker with another truck along the corridor.

Oladeinde expressed his displeasure at the reckless act by both drivers and declared that the State government would track down the owners/companies of the offenders for necessary sanctions, adding that the Federal Road Safety Corps, Vehicle Inspection Service and other Law Enforcement Agencies would continue to work assiduously to rid Lagos roads of vehicles that are not roadworthy.

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He also disclosed that the affected bridge would remain closed to vehicular movement until an integrity test was conducted to ascertain the level of damage caused by the inferno on all infrastructure along the corridor to avert unforeseen consequences.

While appealing to motorists and other road users to exercise caution and comply with all safety guidelines, the Commissioner disclosed that the State Government would not tolerate reckless behaviour from heavy-duty vehicle drivers within the metropolis, assuring stakeholders that a meeting would soon be arranged with the Unions of Tanker drivers within the State to address the situation towards bringing the desired change in the transport sector.

Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said remnants of the vehicles involved in the incident, which was without any fatality, due to the swift and timely intervention of first responders, had been
cleared by the Agency.

He, however, urged residents to exercise utmost caution in the area because the spilt contents, which was diluted with chemical treatments, was still volatile and at risk of ignition by naked flame.