A massive explosion rocked the Otedola Bridge in Lagos last night, triggering a fierce inferno that spread to nearby structures. The incident occurred at 8:18 p.m. when a 50,000-litre petroleum tanker overturned while making a turn.
Although no casualties had been confirmed at press time, the Director General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said emergency teams had been mobilized to contain the fire and manage the situation.
Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, reported that the flames had engulfed a church, an adjacent bungalow, and four vehicles.
As panic gripped the area, motorists fled the scene, with some making abrupt U-turns while others abandoned their vehicles to avoid a repeat of the 2018 disaster at the same location, which claimed at least 12 lives and destroyed 54 vehicles.
Emergency responders, including LASEMA, the State Fire Service, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), continued battling the blaze late into the night, working to prevent further destruction.
Adeseye confirmed that firefighting efforts were ongoing, adding, “There have been no reported casualties so far, with further updates to follow.”
Meanwhile, LASEMA’s Head of Public Affairs, Boss Okunbo, described the incident as “some sort of explosion,” stating that an official report was forthcoming as the agency’s Tiger Response Team remained on the ground.
