2 Dead, Warehouses Razed in Lagos Gas Tanker Inferno

​LAGOS — A horrific gas explosion along the Lekki-Epe Expressway claimed two lives in the early hours of Saturday, March 21, 2026, as a collision between a speeding tipper truck and a stationary gas tanker ignited a massive fire at the Tera Ahmed bus stop in Sangotedo.

​The disaster occurred at approximately 2:36 a.m. according to officials from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service. Preliminary reports indicate that a 20-tonne tipper truck, traveling at high speed from the Epe axis, rammed into the rear of a 30-tonne gas truck. The tanker had reportedly developed a fault and was parked on the highway when the impact occurred, triggering an immediate explosion.

​The resulting fireball spread rapidly, engulfing three large warehouses and 10 roadside shops. Among the destroyed properties were a local gym, a generator house, three Toyota Sienna buses, a Toyota Corolla, and a forklift.

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​Emergency responders from the Lekki Phase II, Oniru, and Epe II fire stations arrived at the scene to battle the blaze. Their swift intervention was credited with saving a nearby Total Petrol Filling Station and its fully loaded 33,000-litre tanker, which sat dangerously close to the inferno.

​Casualties and Damage

​Margaret Adeseye, Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, confirmed that the tipper driver and his assistant were trapped in the wreckage and burnt beyond recognition. Their remains have since been recovered for evacuation. Conversely, the driver of the gas tanker managed to escape the scene unhurt before the fire escalated.

​”The fire has been completely extinguished, and the situation is now under control,” stated Amodu Shakiru, the agency’s Director of Public Affairs. “We are currently working with other emergency services to evacuate the charred remains of both vehicles and restore the full flow of traffic on the expressway.”

​Safety Concerns

​This latest incident adds to a troubling trend of tanker-related accidents in Lagos. Data from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) indicates that over 500 truck-related emergencies were recorded in 2024 alone, with 2026 already seeing a spike in similar occurrences. Just this month, fuel prices reached a new high of ₦1,245 per litre, further heightening the stakes for the safe transport of petroleum and gas products across the state.

​Authorities have once again urged drivers of articulated vehicles to adhere to safety protocols, particularly regarding speed limits and the use of early warning signs when vehicles break down on major highways.