BREAKING: One dies as fire guts petrol-filled tanker on Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway

One death was recorded at 02: 16am on Friday as a tanker overturned and spilled its 45,000 liters of fuel at Ajegunle, near Sango Toll Gate on the Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway bordering Lagos and Ogun states.

An eyewitness said the incident occurred as the tanker, meant to service Ayinde Oil Filling Station was trying to negotiate a bend to the Station. The spilled content caught fire as some people were scooping fuel, with the inferno spreading to some roadside makeshift shops.

According to the Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Margaret Adeseye, operatives of the agency successfully put out the fire, adding that three vehicles and some shops were burnt.

She said the situation was brought under control by the Agege, Ikeja and Alausa fire fighters with the use of tactical firefighting application of chemical foam compound.

“The public is hereby assured that the situation is under control as the process of mopping up and evacuation of the remains of the fire is ongoing. They should however exercise caution and restraint as outbound Lagos traffic has been diverted to travel with the inbound vehicular traffic.

“Unfortunately, a male adult was recovered suspected dead likewise three various brands of vehicles involved in the fire aside the tanker and shops. More updates on the unfortunate incident will follow,” Adeseye said.