Two people have died following a devastating gas tanker explosion in the early hours of Saturday along the Lekki–Epe Expressway in Lagos.
The incident occurred at about 2:36 a.m. near Tera Ahmed bus stop in Sangotedo after a 30-tonne gas tanker was struck by a speeding 20-tonne tipper truck travelling from the Epe axis.
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According to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the tipper crashed into the tanker, which had reportedly stopped on the highway without pulling off the road.
The collision triggered a massive fire that rapidly spread to nearby structures, destroying three warehouses and at least 10 roadside shops, including a gym and a generator house. Properties worth billions of naira were left in ruins.
Firefighters from multiple stations, including Lekki Phase II, Oniru and Epe II, responded promptly and were able to contain the blaze before it spread to a nearby petrol station and a fully loaded 33,000-litre petrol tanker. Officials said this intervention averted a potentially far greater disaster.
Authorities confirmed that the driver of the tipper truck and his assistant died in the explosion, while the gas tanker driver escaped unhurt.
Emergency responders also recovered three Sienna buses, a Toyota Corolla and a forklift from the scene. Clearance operations are ongoing, with normal activities gradually returning to the area.
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