Lagos-Ibadan expressway: 17 escape dying, one injured as CNG bus explodes

At least 17 individuals have been rescued unharmed, whereas one passenger sustained extreme burn accidents after a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered industrial bus exploded and burst into flames alongside the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday.

The incident occurred at Berger Bus Stop, on the Lagos-bound part of the busy expressway, involving a totally loaded Toyota Hiace bus with registration quantity EKY 798 YK, blueprint stories.

The car was reportedly conveying 18 occupants, together with the motive force, from the Mowe-Ibafo axis in direction of Lagos when an explosion involving its fuel system triggered a fireplace, throwing passengers and different street customers into panic.

While 17 occupants escaped with out accidents, a male passenger seated on the rear of the car sustained extreme burns.

He was subsequently evacuated to the Lagos State Trauma and Emergency Centre on the Toll Gate for pressing medical consideration.

The incident has once more drawn consideration to car security, significantly the upkeep and inspection of alternative-fuel industrial autos working on Nigeria’s more and more busy highways.

LASTMA, firefighters, police coordinate rescue

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) mentioned its personnel promptly mobilised to the scene and evacuated the occupants following the outbreak.

Officers of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service subsequently deployed firefighting gear to extinguish the inferno and stop it from spreading to close by autos and services.

Personnel of the Ojodu Police Division additionally supplied safety, managed the group and maintained order all through the rescue and firefighting operations.

LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, recommended the company’s personnel for his or her swift response and appreciated the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Nigeria Police Force for his or her collaboration.

He mentioned the incident underscored the significance of fast emergency response and efficient inter-agency cooperation in mitigating street disasters.

Bakare-Oki urged industrial transport operators, significantly these working CNG-powered autos, to prioritise common skilled inspections, adjust to established security requirements and guarantee correct upkeep of their fuel storage and supply methods.

Lagos-Ibadan Expressway’s historical past of lethal fires and explosions

Wednesday’s incident provides to a historical past of significant hearth outbreaks and explosions alongside the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, significantly across the Ibafo, Kara, Arepo and Berger sections of the hall.

The freeway, which connects Lagos with Ogun State and different components of the nation, has repeatedly witnessed accidents involving gas tankers, articulated autos and different industrial autos, with some incidents leading to fatalities, accidents, destruction of property and extended visitors gridlocks.

One of the foremost incidents occurred on June 11, 2025, when a petroleum tanker carrying roughly 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) misplaced management whereas making an attempt a U-turn reverse the NASFAT Islamic Centre alongside the expressway.

According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the tanker overturned and exploded, triggering an inferno that unfold to no less than eight different vehicles, a few of which had been carrying fuel and vegetable oil.

Two individuals sustained accidents and had been taken to hospital, whereas emergency responders finally introduced the fireplace underneath management and reopened the street to visitors.

Another incident was recorded in October 2024 across the Ibafo axis, when a petroleum tanker suffered a burst tyre, misplaced management and overturned, spilling its contents earlier than exploding.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed that 5 autos had been burnt within the ensuing hearth, whereas three males sustained accidents.

Although no life was misplaced, the incident once more uncovered the hazards posed by petroleum tankers and different autos transporting extremely flammable merchandise alongside the hall.

Earlier, on May 25, 2024, one other petrol-laden tanker exploded across the Ibafo-Aseese axis of the expressway, disrupting vehicular motion.

The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) confirmed the incident, reporting that firefighters finally extinguished the blaze and no casualty was recorded.

In September 2019, two tankers conveying Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and petrol reportedly skidded off the freeway and plunged right into a drainage channel round Kara, Ibafo.

The state of affairs worsened when the tankers caught hearth throughout a product-transfer operation, forcing commuters and residents to scamper for security.

The ensuing inferno brought about extreme visitors disruption, with the gridlock extending in direction of Berger and leaving many commuters stranded.

These incidents illustrate the recurring hazard posed by fires involving fuel-laden autos alongside the freeway, though Wednesday’s explosion differs as a result of it concerned a passenger bus powered by compressed pure fuel.

CNG security considerations as Nigeria expands different gas adoption

The newest incident additionally raises questions on security requirements governing the rising adoption of Compressed Natural Gas as a substitute automotive gas in Nigeria.

The Federal Government has promoted CNG conversion and deployment as a part of efforts to cut back transportation prices and reduce dependence on petrol and diesel.

However, the protection of CNG-powered autos depends upon the standard of conversion, set up, inspection and upkeep of their high-pressure storage cylinders, valves, pipelines and different related parts.

Poor set up, broken parts, substandard cylinders or insufficient upkeep can expose car occupants to severe dangers.

It is, nonetheless, vital to ascertain the exact explanation for Wednesday’s explosion by means of a technical investigation slightly than assume that the CNG conversion or a selected part was accountable.

The incident additionally highlights the necessity for transport regulators and related security companies to make sure that industrial autos carrying giant numbers of passengers endure acceptable inspections earlier than being deployed.

For commuters who depend upon industrial buses for every day transportation, the protection of alternative-fuel autos stays as vital as their affordability.

With 17 individuals escaping Wednesday’s inferno, the swift intervention of emergency responders prevented what may have been a way more devastating tragedy.

Nevertheless, the incident reinforces the necessity for stronger preventive security measures, correct car certification and efficient enforcement to make sure that the transition to different fuels doesn’t expose passengers to avoidable risks.