A tanker fire along the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway on Friday left a woman injured and destroyed three vehicles, according to the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE).
The incident, which happened around 1 a.m., was triggered when a 33,000-litre petrol tanker overturned while speeding. The impact caused the tanker to spill its contents, sparking a massive fire that spread to nearby vehicles.
TRACE spokesperson, Babatunde Akinbiyi, explained that the fire engulfed the tanker, a towing vehicle, and a truck, all of which were completely destroyed. The blaze also damaged electric and solar poles along the highway, as well as a PHCN power cable supplying electricity to Mowe and surrounding areas.
Emergency responders, including TRACE officials, the Ogun State Fire Service, Nestlé Fire Service, FRSC operatives, and the police, were on the scene to put out the flames, evacuate fuel from the wreckage, and restore traffic.
Akinbiyi confirmed in a follow-up briefing that the fire extended to a roadside shanty where a woman was caught in the flames, sustaining minor injuries. She was immediately attended to, and no deaths were recorded.
“Three vehicles, including the tanker, were destroyed, but thankfully no occupants were trapped. Only one woman who was in a roadside shanty suffered minor burns,” Akinbiyi said.
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Tanker explosions are not uncommon in Ogun and neighbouring states. In October 2024, a similar incident on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway claimed one life and destroyed several vehicles and goods. More recently, in July 2025, a tanker explosion in Ibadan caused significant damage after a brake failure, though casualties were limited.
While Friday’s incident did not result in fatalities, officials stressed that speeding and reckless driving by fuel tanker drivers continue to pose major risks on Nigerian highways.
