Thousands of commuters were left stranded on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway after a petrol tanker overturned and burst into flames, triggering a massive traffic gridlock and disrupting movement along the busy highway.
The incident occurred near the NASFAT Camp area, where the tanker reportedly caught fire after losing control, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky and causing panic among motorists and nearby residents.
The fire rendered a section of the expressway inaccessible, leading to heavy congestion in both directions as vehicles remained trapped for several hours.
Eyewitnesses said many motorists attempted to escape the gridlock by driving against traffic, worsening the situation despite efforts by security operatives to maintain order on the road.
Several passengers were forced to abandon their vehicles and continue their journeys on foot, while others remained stuck in traffic amid the heat and uncertainty.
One commuter, Cynthia, recounted her ordeal, saying she trekked from Warewa towards Mowe after being stranded in the congestion.
“I was almost hit by a motorcyclist. He was riding recklessly as though he did not care about anyone on the road,” she said.
She blamed the situation on widespread disregard for traffic regulations.
“We often fail to obey simple rules, and that contributes to many of the problems we face as a country,” Cynthia added.
Another motorist, Saheed Onikeku, said his decision to join other drivers using the wrong lane backfired.
“I thought taking the alternative route would save time, but I ended up in worse traffic. Everywhere is blocked now. I should have remained in my original lane,” he said.
A stranded passenger, Chukwuebuka Felix, expressed frustration over the delay in removing the tanker from the roadway.
“If the emergency response system was more effective, the tanker would have been cleared much earlier. It is unfortunate that so many people have had to spend hours on the road because of this incident,” he said.
Reacting to the development, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Florence Okpe, said emergency responders were deployed immediately after the incident.
“A traffic advisory has been issued, and our personnel were promptly mobilised to the scene to safeguard road users and manage the situation,” she said.
Okpe noted that no lives were lost in the explosion and assured motorists that rescue teams were working with relevant agencies to evacuate affected vehicles and restore normal traffic flow.
As of the time of filing this report, traffic remained at a standstill in several sections of the expressway, with many commuters, including children, seen trekking long distances while evacuation and rescue operations continued.
