- By Halimah Olamide
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed the death of one person and the injuring of four others after the explosion of a fuel tanker near the Otedola Bridge, Ikeja area of Lagos late Tuesday.
NPO Reported last night that a gas tanker had exploded at Otedola Bridge, Lagos, sending many to scamper to safety.
Giving breakdown of the damages, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Lagos Territorial Office, said one person was killed while four others sustained injury.
Farinloye added that 14 vehicles were destroyed.
Farinloye added that the explosion, which occurred around2030hrs at Otedola Bridge, Lagos, affected one commercial storey building and damaged four shops.
According to him, the incident occurred when a fully loaded gas tanker fell while trying to access the express way from Otedola Estate road.
He listed emergency responders at the scene to include, NEMA, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the fire service, the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Road Safety Corps.
Spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, had clarified that the fire which resulted from a tanker accident did not occur on Otedola Bridge as widely reported.
He made the announcement via his X page, in response to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services’ alert.
Recall that NPO had observed that the fire had taken over most part of the bridge leading to the CMD Road and nearby Otedola Housing Estate .
Hundeyin stated that the fire has now been put off and there is also free flow of traffic on the bridge.
He also noted that officers of the Lagos State Police Command are fully on ground to secure the scene for other post-fire activities.
“We can confirm that the fire, which has now been put out, did not occur on the bridge.
“We can also confirm that there is free flow of traffic on the bridge while officers of the Lagos State Police Command are fully on ground to secure the scene for other post-fire activities.
“Further updates will be provided.” he said.