The Federal Road Safety Corps has confirmed that although no lives were lost in the tanker explosion along the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway on Friday, three vehicles were burnt in the incident.
The spokesperson of the Ogun State Command of the FRSC, Florence Okpe, in an update obtained by Saturday PUNCH, said the situation had been brought under control and normalcy had returned to the area.
She said, “At the time of writing this report, the three vehicles involved were burnt beyond recognition, and there were no casualties. The area is cool and calm now, and FRSC operatives are on the ground, ensuring traffic is controlled. More information will be extended when there’s a new development.”
City Round learnt from the spokesperson for the state Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, that the fire began at about 1 a.m. on Friday.
According to Akinbiyi, a petrol-laden 33,000-litre tanker overturned due to excessive speeding and spilled its contents on the highway.
He disclosed that the impact of the fall triggered a fire outbreak, which spread to other vehicles and electric poles.
Akinbiyi said, “The case of an inferno caused by a 30,000-litre fuel-laden tanker which fell on its side and spilt 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.
“The effect of the unfortunate incident also extended to the burning of a truck and a tow vehicle along the roadside, as well as the destruction of a PHCN cable supplying electricity to Mowe and environs.
“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 added that due to the ongoing rescue efforts, traffic within the corridor had been diverted to a single lane.
“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.
However, any inconveniences as a result of this unfortunate incident are highly regretted,”** Akinbiyi concluded.
In July 2025, a similar petrol tanker explosion was reported in Ibadan after a brake failure, affecting nearby vehicles, though casualties were not widely confirmed.