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Tag: Otedola Bridge

  • Lagos commissioner calls for safety awareness after Otedola Bridge tanker explosion

    Lagos commissioner calls for safety awareness after Otedola Bridge tanker explosion

    Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, has stressed the need for heightened safety awareness following a gas tanker explosion at Otedola Bridge.

    Speaking during an assessment visit to the accident site, which was engulfed in flames on Tuesday night, Osiyemi condemned the violation of traffic regulations by the tanker driver. 

    He pointed out that despite a clear road sign prohibiting trucks from using the corridor, the driver ignored the restriction, leading to the devastating inferno.

    “There was a clear sign that said ‘No Trucks Allowed,’ yet the tanker driver disregarded it, putting lives and property at risk,” he stated.

    Osiyemi emphasized that the incident highlights the urgent need for stricter enforcement of safety regulations and enhanced technical measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

    “This incident reinforces the urgent need for stricter safety protocols for heavy-duty vehicles. The Ministry of Transportation is also intensifying enforcement on the movement of hazardous materials, strengthening regulatory compliance, and implementing enhanced safety measures to prevent future occurrences.”

    Read Also: Otedola Bridge fire:  Two dead as victims count losses

    During the visit, the commissioner and his team conducted a comprehensive evaluation, not only of the transport infrastructure but also of other affected structures. 

    “We are here to look at the totality of what happened. A comprehensive assessment of the bridge and surrounding structures.”

    He confirmed that the assessment included checking for structural cracks on the bridge and its surrounding facilities to determine their integrity.

    Osiyemi urged heavy-duty vehicle drivers to adhere strictly to safety regulations and cooperate with government efforts to protect lives and property. 

    He reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to building a safer and more resilient transport system for all residents.

  • Otedola Bridge fire:  Two dead as victims count losses

    Otedola Bridge fire:  Two dead as victims count losses

    • Lagos vows stronger safety measures

    The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) yesterday confirmed that two persons died and six others sustained injuries in the gas tanker explosion that occurred under the Otedola Bridge on Tuesday night.

    It also confirmed that 12 vehicles, eight tricycles and a building were destroyed by the incident which happened around 8pm on Tuesday. The fire, which erupted after a tanker carrying gas fell, claimed lives and caused destruction.

    One of the survivors, George Uchenna, a driver, narrated how he narrowly escaped death.

     “I had parked with my boy when the tanker fell. We managed to run, but before then, about 10 bus drivers were at the scene, and sadly, all of them lost their lives,” he said.

    Among the victims was a well-known mechanic, Baba Rotimi, who was working on a customer’s vehicle when the disaster struck.

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    The fire spread rapidly, consuming vehicles, businesses, and nearby structures. A member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Fulfillment Centre, Paul Samuel, confirmed that while their church building was not affected, the gate was damaged.

    A mechanic, Tosin, said: “The fire wouldn’t have gotten here, but a woman who cooks with gas due to the heat, her gas cylinder exploded. That explosion spread the fire, affecting four cars parked beside it.’’

    A passer-by expressed frustration at the sight. “People lost their lives and property, but scavengers are here, picking whatever they can sell. It’s painful to watch,” he said.

    Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said in a statement: “We deeply regret the gas tanker explosion on Otedola Bridge, which caused widespread damage and disruption of activities.

    “Our thoughts are with those affected, and we commend the swift response of emergency services working tirelessly to manage the aftermath.

    “This incident reinforces the urgent need for stricter safety protocols for heavy-duty vehicles.

    “We call on transport operators to uphold the highest safety standards and cooperate with government efforts to safeguard lives and property.’’

  • One dead, three injured in tanker explosion under Otedola Bridge

    One dead, three injured in tanker explosion under Otedola Bridge

    A gas tanker explosion under the Otedola Bridge on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway left one person and three injured in Lagos last night.

    The tanker burst into flames, a situation that forced residents and motorists to scamper for safety, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the casualty figure in a statement.

    The statement reads: “Three adult male victims with severe burns have been rescued and transferred to Gbagada General Hospital burns unit while the remains of an adult male were also recovered,” LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said.

    He went on: “All hands remain on deck to extinguish the flames. Motorists are urged to take alternative routes where possible.”

    Oke-Osanyintolu said the agency deployed its Tiger Response Team in the area to bring the situation under control.

    According to him, the road was cordoned off. He urged motorists to take alternative routes.

    The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) also confirmed the accident in a statement.

    In a post on its X handle, LASTMA said the fire affected nearby structures, including a church, residential house, and mechanics’ parks at Otedola under bridge, adjacent to CMD Road.

    It said emergency responders were on ground to handle the situation.

    “A tanker has fallen and caught fire, affecting nearby structures, including a church, residential house, and mechanics’ parks at Otedola Under Bridge, adjacent to CMD Road.

     “Fire Rescue teams are currently at the scene, working to extinguish the fire and mitigate the situation. Recovery efforts are ongoing. Due to the incident, there is currently no movement in or out of Otedola Under Bridge, resulting in a complete blockade of the area.”

    The agency lamented that “despite repeated warnings and roadblocks, we have received reports that some motorists are recklessly attempting to navigate through the fire incident area, putting their lives at risk.

    It described the “behaviour” as “extremely hazardous,” warning Lagos motorists against it.

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    The Lagos State Fire service also weighed in on the explosion in a post on X.

    “The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service is currently attending to a Fire resulting from a tanker accident outward Otedola bridge, Omole, Lagos at about 20:00 hours.

    “The 30-tonne DAF Gas Truck with an unknown registration number is on it way navigating,” the agency said.

    The Nation gathered that among the affected vehicles were those parked at a nearby mechanic village.

    A church and other houses within the surrounding area were said to have also been affected by the fire, which was still raging at the time of this report.

    It was learnt that the tanker was negotiating a bend outward the Otedola Bridge, Omole when it fell on its side.

  • UPDATED: Vehicles razed as tanker explodes on Otedola bridge

    UPDATED: Vehicles razed as tanker explodes on Otedola bridge

    A gas tanker on Tuesday night exploded under the Otedola Bridge burning vehicles and houses around the surrounding.
    It was gathered that the accident occurred around ,8pm when the 30 tonnes DAF truck without registration number fell on its side.
    The Nation gathered that among the affected vehicles were those parked at a nearby mechanic village.

    A church and other houses within the surrounding were said to have also been affected by the fire which was still raging at the time of this report.

    It was learnt that the tanker was negotiating a bend outward the Otedola Bridge, Omole when it fell on its side.

    According to the Lagos State Fire Service, the ensuring fireballs affected a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), a nearby bangalow and four vehicles.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Gridlock as tanker explodes on Otedola Bridge

    It said firefighters from the agency, operatives of the police and officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) were all on ground to de-escalate the situation.

    The fire service said there was no loss of life at the time of this report, adding that operations were ongoing to douse the fire.

    The Nation gathered that the expressway had already been cordoned and vehicles diverted to prevent further damage as a result of the explosion.

    The Permanent Secretary (PS) LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the incident to our Correspondent, adding that no death was recorded.

    “The agency has activated a multi responder plan to the incident involving an overturned tanker conveying gas and the resultant fire.
    “All hands are on deck to extinguish the flames. Motorists are urged to take alternative routes where possible,” he said.
    The Nation reports that another accident occurred on the bridge yesterday morning which caused traffic standstill for motorists commuting the ever busy Lagos-Ibadan highway.

  • BREAKING: Gridlock as tanker explodes on Otedola Bridge

    BREAKING: Gridlock as tanker explodes on Otedola Bridge

    A tanker exploded on Tuesday evening on Otedola Bridge along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, causing panic among commuters on the route.

    The Nation learnt the incident has resulted in traffic congestion on both lanes of the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.

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    The explosion, according to eyewitnesses, occurred around 8 p.m which ignited a fire spreading rapidly.

    Reacting, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed that LASEMA’s Tiger Response Team is on the scene working to bring the situation under control.

    Details shortly…

  • Driver dies in crash near Otedola Bridge

    Driver dies in crash near Otedola Bridge

    Tragedy struck on wednesday morning near the Secretariat inward Otedola Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when a mini bus, popularly known as “Korope,” rammed into a moving long truck.

    The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed that the accident resulted from brake failure caused by excessive speeding.

    The impact of the crash left the driver of the mini bus trapped inside the wreckage while other passengers escaped unscathed.

    Rescue operations, carried out in collaboration with Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) personnel and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials, aimed to extricate the trapped driver. Despite concerted efforts, the driver was recovered lifeless.

    Security operatives from the Alausa Police Division were present to maintain order and ensure the safety of responders throughout the operation.

    Read Also: PHOTOS: Heavy gridlock as truck falls on Otedola Bridge

    In a statement, LASTMA General Manager Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki expressed condolences to the bereaved family and emphasised the importance of observing traffic regulations.

    “This heartbreaking incident underscores the dangers of reckless driving. We urge all motorists to prioritize safety, maintain their vehicles properly, and adhere strictly to traffic rules,” Bakare-Oki said.

  • PHOTOS: Heavy gridlock as truck falls on Otedola Bridge

    PHOTOS: Heavy gridlock as truck falls on Otedola Bridge

    Heavy gridlock as truck falls on Otedola Bridge

  • Police trace Otedola Bridge fire ‘suspect’ to Kano

    The Lagos State Ministry of Justice Thursday revealed that the police had traced to Kano, the owner of a petrol tanker that exploded last June 27 on the Otedola Bridge in Lagos, killing 12 people.

    Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice Mr. Adeniji Kazeem (SAN) said there was, however, some uncertainty as to whether the truck driver died in the fire.

    Kazeem, who spoke in Lagos at a parley with journalists, said the government had yet to fulfill its promise to prosecute the perpetrators of the disaster because police had not availed it of the report of its investigation.

    The Otedola Bridge fire accident occurred at about 5pm on the Otedola Bridge on the Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when a tanker  carrying 33,000 litres of petrol, fell, leaked and exploded, killing 12 people.

    The inferno that ensued destroyed over 50 vehicles and caused a gridlock in the city for hours.

    Kazeem said: “We said we were going to prosecute the persons that caused that disaster. One of the challenges then was how to identify the perpetrators of that crime. We had said the driver and the owner needed to be identified.

    “There were all kinds of stories out there, including whether the driver had perished in the fire or not. The owners, as we understand, were traced by the police to Kano.

    “The whole idea was that at the end of the day, they would conclude their investigation and get us the file here in the ministry. Unfortunately, we can’t do the investigation ourselves, so that we can commence prosecution process.

    “Unfortunately, that process has not yet been concluded, or is not conclusive yet. Until we get that file, we cannot proceed with prosecution.”

  • 44 passengers unhurt as bus catches fire

    No fewer than 44 passengers escaped unhurt on Monday as a red high capacity bus marked GBE 257 XA caught fire on Otedola Bridge in Lagos.

    The cause of the fire that occurred around 11:22am, could not be ascertained.

    Though, some of the passengers said the fire started when the driver was joining wire to re-start the bus after stopping for some passengers to alight.

    Another passenger attributed the cause to over-heating.

    The bus, loaded with passengers, it was learnt, was heading to Ketu from Ibafo.

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    The driver could not be reached for comment because he fled immediately the fire commenced.

    A passenger, Segun Ola said he managed to move the bus to the side of the road before he took off.

    “Immediately the fire started, the driver, having noticed the outbreak, cleared off the road while the passengers rushed out and ran for their lives,” Ola said.

    The Ilupeju fire station arrived at the Otedola Bridge and later joined by the Alausa fire station to avert casualties and prevent loss of lives in the raging inferno.

    The incident was put under control by the joint efforts of the two stations.

    Lagos State Fire Service Acting Director Rasaki Musibau said the absence of fire extinguishers made the bus burnt completely.

    He lamented that despite the sensitisation to motorists to always equip their vehicles with basic firefighting tools as first aid in time of fire outbreak, most motorists refused to comply.

    The presence of the firemen, he said, prevented the fire from spreading to other vehicles on the high way.

    He advised motorists to avoid joining wires to ignite their vehicles as this can cause fire outbreak and loss of valuable properties.

    He urged all motorists to equip their vehicles with basic firefighting equipment.

  • Tanker Fire: Father seeks govt. assistance to fly child abroad for treatment

    ***as ministry presents report of investigation

    It was a pathetic story on Tuesday as a father whose wife and seven years old daughter got severely burnt at the Otedola bridge tanker explosion appealed to the government to assist him renew the international passport of her little daughter to enable him fly her and her mother abroad for adequate treatment so as not to jeopardise the future of the girl.

    The father who said he has spent over N4million so far for their treatment refused to disclose his name or have his photograph taken because he does not want the matter to go public.

    He said he initially took his daughter and wife to a private hospital after the accident after which he relocated them to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, but now needed to fly them out for proper treatment because he is not satisfied with the plight of his only daughter and wife.

    He wants the government to arrange for the only mobile capturing machine which is at Abuja to be brought down to LASUTH to do her capturing to enable her renew her passport since she can not be moved for the same purpose to the passport office here in Lagos.

    The commissioner for transport, Mr. Ladi Lawanson assured him that the government will look into it but asked the sorrowful father to see him immediately after the meeting.

    This was one of the sad tales related yesterday at a meeting to present the report of the investigation into the June 28, 2018 accident by the Lagos State Ministry of Transport.

    The meeting was also for the Nigerian Insurance Association, NIA, to access the damaged vehicles in order to take necessary steps in ensuring prompt and proper payment of conpensation to the victims and their families.

    Read Also: Tanker explosion: LASG to prosecute owner, driver

    Giving report of the investigation earlier, the commissioner for Transport, Mr. Ladi Lawanson said 55 vehicles were involved in the accident comprising of 32 SUVs, 7 buses, 3 trucks and 1 tricycle and that the fuel tanker with registration number NSR 888 YQ was registered in Kano and belongs to one Hassan Yusuf Maiwaka who would be brought to Lagos to face prosecution.

    He also disclosed that of the 55 vehicles, using forensic equipment and with the automated vehicle registration system in Lagos it was discovered that 39 were registered in Lagos and their owners have been traced and contacted.

    Some items recovered in some of the vehicles which includes £50, some euros, ATM cards and some documents were returned to the owners or their representatives after duly identifying themselves.

    The commissioner commended all the officials of emergency response teams like LASEMA, Ambulance service, fire service, FRSC, police, LASTMA etc for their quick response which “mitigated what should have been a worst disaster”.

    Also speaking, the Director-General of Nigerian Insurance Association, NIA, commended the state government for the speed with which the investigation was conducted and is coming out.

    She assured that NIA will support all genuine cases of insurance claims involved in the accident and ensure that claims are paid by the concerned insurance companies both for the burnt vehicles and lives lost.

    Managing Director of LASEMA assured families concerned that the Ministry of Health was still working on the DNA test and immediately it is through with the exercise it will call for a meeting of all those concerned and arrangements would be made to release the corpses to the right families for burial.

    Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr. Hyginus Omeje who was also present at the meeting gave some safety tips at accident scenes or while driving.

    He said in cases like what happened at Otedola bridge on the sad day, motorist should just switch off the engine of their cars and run for their lives and that when you are behind articulated vehicles in traffic you must keep a reasonable distance, he also advised that people must not gather at accident sites for the purpose of taking photographs or video recording as they would be hindering recue efforts or could become victims of further accident.