CITIZENS COMPASS– Road users on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Thursday, rained abuses on Ogun State Government for its lackadaisical attitude as tanker explosion grounded the expressway for about 11hours.
The road users said the explosion occurred at about 1p.m on Wednesday, escalated and spread till midnight.
A cross section of the road users criticised the State government for neglect and bad approach to the plights of citizens.
Speaking with Citizens Compass, a road user who identified himself as Baba Dami said he spent eight hours in the traffic missing an important assignment he had been pursuing since January.
“It was a business meeting and I left home early enough unfortunately I was stuck in the traffic. We were surprised that the State government could leave the fire to tage for 12hours. This is bad.”
Another road user, a resident of Ibafo, Mrs Adenuga Tiwalola questioned why the State fire service could be unresponsive to the extent of endangering the lives of innocent citizens. “We were stranded for hours and wondered why the government left an explosion unattended to.”
Citizens Compass gathered that at least two persons were injured and six vehicles were razed when a petrol-laden tanker exploded opposite the NASFAT junction on the Expressway.
The incident resulted in traffic congestion leading many road users stranded till midnight.
Despite public outcry on social media, the incident was left unattended as people wondered if there were firefighters in the State.
The incident occurred when the tanker, while attempting a U-turn at the junction, overturned and spilled its contents, which subsequently ignited.
An eyewitness who chose to remain anonymous stated, “The tanker was trying to make a turn when it fell to its side and spilt the petrol before catching fire.”
The fire engulfed the immediate area, destroying six vehicles, including four trucks, a bus, and a Toyota Camry, and bringing vehicular movement to a standstill.
Babatunde Akinbiyi, spokesperson, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), said two men suffered severe injuries.
“Two male casualties at the scene of the tanker that caught fire at NASFAT along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The casualties have been taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital by OGSAES.”
However, due to heavy gridlock, Akinbiyi later updated that, “The earlier reported casualties cannot be taken to the OOUTH as reported due to heavy traffic. They have been taken to FAMOBIS Hospital at Lotto.”
In a related development on the same day, another fuel tanker accident occurred nearby, worsening the situation. One tanker fell on one side of the road, while an 18-tyre truck loaded with stones toppled on the opposite side near the Ogere bridge around noon.
A similar incident occurred in Obawole area of Ifako-Ijaye in Lagos and this was promptly attended to by the system government.
There was no casualty or fatality.
