Confusion as tanker fire halts traffic on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Confusion reigns on the Magboro Bridge of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as traffic has been brought to a halt after a petrol tanker explosion early Wednesday morning.

The tanker going out of Lagos was said to have gone up in flames around 4:15am, grinding traffic to a halt.

It was not immediately clear if there were casualties arising from the inferno which officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), police and firefighters have been battling to contain.

In a caution notice by the FRSC, motorists especially those using the Lagos-Ibadan corridor were urged to use other alternative routes or be ready for the delay.

The FRSC Corridor Commander, Kehinde Hamzat, said, in the notice, “The Federal Road Safety Corps wishes to advise the general public on the need for adequate planning of their trips for today for users of the Lagos-Ibadan Corridor.

“The tanker explosion on Magboro bridge on the outward Lagos section of the expressway which occurred at about 0415hrs in the early hours of the day, Wednesday 2nd December, 2020 has called for the need to adjust ones movement for the day.

“The fire is still burning as at 0520hrs and this means a total standstill situation of vehicular movement along the expresway.

“Relentless efforts are still being made to extinguish the fire by men of Fire Service backed up by men of other agencies around the scene of the inferno.

“We therefore advise the general public to have an adequate planning for their trips for those who cannot cancel their planned journeys. We also advise that travellers who are bound to transit in and out of Lagos from the neighbouring state to explore alternative routes where necessary.

“All hands on deck to ensure that the situation is professionally managed and the road returned to proper use for the public.”