Two Burnt to Death as 33,000-Litre Diesel Tanker Explodes on Lagos-Badagry Expressway After High-Speed Overtaking Maneuver

What was meant to be a day of celebration turned into a scene of horror in the early hours of Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, as a massive diesel tanker explosion claimed two lives and destroyed several properties along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

The tragedy struck at approximately 4:00 AM near the Oto-Ijanikin axis, just a few meters from the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED). According to eyewitnesses and official reports from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), a Mack truck fully loaded with 33,000 litres of diesel was traveling at high speed toward Agbara when the driver attempted to overtake another vehicle.

The maneuver proved fatal as the driver lost control, causing the heavy-duty vehicle to tilt and crash. The impact instantly ignited the fuel, trapping the driver and an unidentified adult female passenger inside the cabin. Both were burnt beyond recognition before emergency responders could reach them.

“Preliminary findings indicate that the unfortunate incident was precipitated by excessive speed,” stated Adebayo Taofiq, LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs. “The vehicle subsequently crashed and erupted into a raging inferno, tragically claiming the lives of the two occupants.”

Firefighters from the Ojo and Badagry units of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service battled the blaze for several hours. While they were able to contain the fire, the heat was intense enough to damage several nearby buildings and incinerate other vehicles parked along the road.

In a tense standoff at the crash site, LASTMA personnel and police officers from the Ijanikin Division had to forcefully disperse a group of residents who had arrived with jerrycans to scoop the spilled diesel. “This is an extremely hazardous act,” warned LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki. “Our officers’ timely intervention prevented what could have been a much larger disaster involving the public.”

The remains of the victims were eventually recovered by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and taken to a nearby morgue. By midday on Thursday, the burnt wreckage had been towed away to restore the flow of traffic on the busy international corridor.

The Lagos State government has since expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased, while again reiterating a strict warning to tanker drivers to observe speed limits and exercise maximum caution, especially during the high-traffic festive season.