Nigeria in state of shock as nation reels from effect of Lagos tanker fire that burns 54 cars costing nine lives

NIGERIA remains in a state of shock after the country suffered from one of the worst automobile accidents in its history resulting in the death of about nine people as 54 cars burnt on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway following a tanker explosion.

In a horrific and ghastly accident at the Otedola Bridge at the Lagos end of the motorway, a petrol-laden tanker crashed and exploded, leading to an inferno, which soon burnt surrounding cars. Emergency management workers were said to have been mobilised to the scene to rescue commuters trapped in the accident but the fire was so fierce, that it spread uncontrolled.

Some motorists, who made a U-turn and attempted to flee the scene of the incident, crashed into other vehicles as they tried to leave, exacerbating the situation. More lives were reportedly lost in a secondary accident that resulted from the confusion as departing cars crashed into each other.

Eyewitness, Nkechi Obiageli, said: “I was in a commercial bus heading towards the Mowe area of Ogun State, which was beside  the tanker. There was traffic and when it cleared a little, the bus driver manoeuvred his way to the front and we were about a few vehicles away from the tanker when we heard the sound of an explosion.

“The fuel from the tanker spilled on the expressway and all the vehicles at its back went up in flames. People ran for dear life as there was confusion everywhere.”

Bus driver Sunday Esene, added: “I had just dropped off my passengers at Berger bus stop and turned to buy fuel. I was on my way back when I saw the tanker and all of a sudden, it tumbled and hit the median.

"As soon as I realised that fuel was spilling out of the tanker, I abandoned my bus and jumped to the other side of the road. A few seconds later, the tanker exploded and I am sure over 50 vehicles got burnt with many lives lost.”

Motorist, Aderibigbe Oluwafemi, said: “We were in traffic but when it eased a little, I noticed that the tanker in my front did not move. The next thing I saw was that the tanker started moving backwards and it fell.

"Immediately it fell, I opened my door, removed my key and phone and jumped to the other side of the road. My car got burnt but I am happy to be alive.”

Rescue efforts, which were coordinated by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (Lasema), also involved officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, Lagos State Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Ambulance Service, State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, Rapid Response Squad, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,  and the police, among others. Lesama general manager Adeshina Tiamiyu, said firefighters had put out the fire but added that some motorists were killed while attempting to run away from the scene.