Breaking: Gas-Laden Tanker Overturns in Lagos

It was a quiet Lagos morning that could have turned into a tragedy of national proportion.

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At about 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, motorists approaching the Chisco Junction stretch toward Victoria Island froze in fear as a white HOWO gas-laden tanker lost control, veered off its lane, and overturned.

Moments later, the tanker began leaking compressed natural gas (CNG) onto the road, an invisible, highly flammable substance that could ignite from the smallest spark, even from a car’s exhaust.

Miraculously, quick intervention by LASTMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Nigeria Police, and SON emergency teams averted what could have been another Lagos inferno.

Within minutes, officers sealed off the scene, stopped vehicular movement, and safely depressurized the tanker’s cargo.

If the gas had ignited, experts say the blast radius could have reached 200 meters, consuming cars, pedestrians, and nearby buildings.

For years, Nigeria’s economic capital has battled the deadly menace of tanker accidents, a recurring nightmare that has claimed hundreds of lives.

From Berger to Mile 2, Ojuelegba to Otedola Bridge, the stories repeat themselves: heavy-duty trucks losing control, spilling fuel or gas, and erupting in flames.

In June 2018, for example, nine people died and over 50 vehicles were burnt when a fuel tanker exploded on Otedola Bridge, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The city has never forgotten that day.

The latest incident, however, ended differently not in fire and smoke, but in relief and applause for swift, coordinated response.

According to preliminary findings from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and LASTMA, the overturned tanker was transporting Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) from a depot in Apapa en route to a filling plant in Lekki.

Sequence of Events

• Around 4:55 a.m., witnesses noticed the tanker swerving unusually before tipping over near Chisco Junction, Victoria Island axis.
• The vehicle skidded for several meters before landing on its side, rupturing a section of its cylinder manifold.
• Gas began escaping rapidly, filling the air with a faint hiss barely audible over passing traffic.

“We thought it was smoke from the exhaust,” said Mr. Daniel Agbana, a commercial driver who witnessed the crash. “Then someone shouted ‘Gas dey leak!’ and everyone started running.”

The Lagos Fire Service was notified immediately, and responders arrived within 12 minutes.

Their first move: cut off all movement and power sources within a 300-meter radius including turning back early commuters and shutting nearby fuel stations.

By 5:40 a.m., the leak was contained, and gas dispersion began through controlled venting.

Residents and motorists who witnessed the near-disaster described the tense moments before rescue teams arrived.

“It was like holding your breath for ten minutes straight,” said Mrs. Kemi Balogun, who lives near the junction. “One spark, one phone, one careless engine — we would all be gone.”

Another commuter, Ibrahim Musa, recalled how traffic officers risked their lives clearing vehicles.

“They were shouting at drivers to switch off engines and push cars away. Everyone panicked, but those men stayed on the ground doing their job.”

Videos shared on social media show firefighters in protective suits spraying chemical foam over the tanker to neutralize ignition risk.

By sunrise, the truck was stabilized and towed to safety under police escort.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is considered a cleaner fuel but it’s also highly volatile when exposed to pressure or leaks.

RoadKing’s technical team spoke with Engr. Adeola Osho, a safety engineer with the Nigerian Gas Safety Commission, who explained:

“CNG expands up to 300 times its liquid volume when released. In an enclosed space or traffic jam, ignition is catastrophic.”

Had the tanker’s gas met with a spark — say, from a nearby generator or cigarette, it would have produced an explosion powerful enough to obliterate everything within 100 meters and severely burn people as far as 200 meters away.

“What saved Lagos was timing and rapid coordination,” Engr. Osho noted. “It happened early morning when traffic was light, and emergency teams responded fast.”

While authorities celebrate averted disaster, experts warn this is not luck, it’s a symptom of deeper transport safety failures in Nigeria’s logistics chain.

1. Poor Tanker Maintenance

Most tankers used to transport petroleum or gas products are over 20 years old, refurbished repeatedly without safety recertification.
Weak valves, worn tires, and defective pressure regulators often go unchecked.

A 2024 audit by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) found that 61% of registered CNG tankers in the country failed at least one key safety test many still operate illegally.

2. Inadequate Driver Training

Tanker drivers operate some of the heaviest and most hazardous vehicles on the road, yet most lack specialized training for handling compressed gas or flammable cargo.

According to FRSC Safety Marshal, Lagos Sector, out of 5,000 active heavy-duty drivers interviewed in 2025, only 28% had undergone formal tanker safety training.

3. Weak Enforcement and Overloaded Routes

Despite repeated incidents, enforcement remains inconsistent. Many gas trucks travel outside approved hours or overload beyond safe limits.

In this case, witnesses allege the overturned tanker was travelling above recommended speed for loaded CNG carriers (60 km/h).

️ 4. Bad Road Design

Sections of Lagos expressways lack proper shoulders or emergency lanes for large trucks, forcing drivers into risky maneuvers during sharp turns or sudden stops.

Following the incident, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and LASTMA issued a joint advisory urging fleet operators to adhere strictly to safety protocols.

LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, said:

“We thank God this was contained. However, it is unacceptable that such incidents keep recurring. Tanker operators must double-check load security and braking systems before departure.”

FRSC Sector Commander for Lagos, added:

“The law allows movement of hazardous cargo only during low-traffic hours, but we’re now reviewing new restrictions on CNG tankers — including compulsory tracking systems.”

For once, coordination worked exactly as it should.

• LASTMA was first on site, establishing perimeter control.
• Fire Service deployed chemical foam and gas neutralizers.
• Police handled crowd control and prevented motorists from filming dangerously close.
• SON engineers confirmed the tanker’s containment integrity before towing.

According to LASEMA’s incident log, full containment was achieved within 1 hour, 35 minutes, a record response time.

“This is how disaster management should be done,” noted Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary. “The synergy saved lives today.”