A major disaster was prevented in the early hours of Thursday after a gas tanker loaded with liquefied gas burst into flames along Abaranje Road in the Ikotun area of Lagos State.
The incident occurred around Ola Farm Bus Stop, prompting a rapid response from emergency agencies that successfully extinguished the fire before it could spread to nearby buildings and road users.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olawale Afolabi, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday, noting that no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded during the operation.
According to Afolabi, emergency responders arrived at the scene to find the gas tanker already engulfed in flames.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the tanker was travelling at excessive speed when it encountered a speed bump, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
The impact reportedly resulted in a tyre bursting, which immediately triggered the fire outbreak.
“Initial findings indicate that the vehicle was travelling at speed when it struck a road bump.
“The impact caused the driver to lose control, which led to a tyre burst and an immediate fire outbreak,” the statement said.
LASEMA said its emergency response team worked alongside personnel of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby residential and commercial properties.
Officials also secured the affected area to minimise risks to motorists and residents while firefighting operations were ongoing.
Traffic and crowd management were jointly handled by officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Ikotun Division.
Afolabi commended the coordinated efforts of all the agencies involved in the emergency response, describing the operation as successful.
“We are grateful to report that there was no loss of life, and no casualties were recorded. The situation has been brought under control, and the fire fully extinguished,” he stated.
The agency disclosed that recovery operations were still in progress, with heavy-duty equipment deployed to remove the burnt tanker from the road and restore normal vehicular movement.
LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, urged motorists to observe traffic regulations and adhere to speed limits, particularly in residential areas and locations fitted with speed bumps.
“We use this opportunity to remind all motorists of the importance of adhering to speed limits, particularly around designated bumps and in residential corridors. Such caution saves lives and protects property,” he said.
Oke-Osanyintolu reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to maintaining effective disaster preparedness and emergency response capabilities across Lagos State.
He also praised the cooperation demonstrated by other emergency agencies and members of the public throughout the rescue operation.
The permanent secretary encouraged residents to promptly report emergencies through the state’s toll-free emergency numbers, 112 and 767, to enable quick intervention.
The latest incident comes just days after another fire emergency in Lagos.
Earlier this week, an electrical surge from a prepaid electricity meter sparked a fire that destroyed the top floor of a three-storey residential building in the Ketu-Ikosi area of the state.
During that operation, two firefighters reportedly collapsed while battling the blaze and were later taken to hospital for treatment.
LASEMA had attributed that incident to an electrical surge originating from a prepaid meter.
