Explosion rocks Otedola Bridge, burns two buildings in Lagos

An explosion that occurred on Tuesday night following an accident involving a 30-tonne gas truck at the Otedola Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has left two buildings including a Redeemed Christian Church of God parish and four vehicles destroyed.

PUNCH Metro gathered through multiple footage shared on X that the explosion occurred around 7 pm.

The videos showed thick flames emanating from the explosion.

An X user, Tonye Oliver, wrote, “Ongoing tanker fire at Otedola Bridge, this is a major disaster!!”

Another user, Pamilerin Adegoke, urged motorists and commuters to avoid the Otedola Bridge.

“Please, avoid Otedola Bridge. Heavy fire right now,” Adegoke wrote.

Confirming the incident in a statement sent to our correspondent, the Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, disclosed that the fire started after the truck had an accident while navigating its way.

Adeseye noted that the 30-tonne truck with no registration number went up in flames after the accident.

The fire service boss noted that two buildings including an RCCG parish and a bungalow alongside four vehicles of various brands were destroyed in the ensuing fire.

She said, “The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service is currently attending to a fire resulting from a tanker accident outward Otedola Bridge, Omole, Lagos at about 20:00 hours.

“The 30-tonne DAF gas truck with an unknown registration number was on its way navigating the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway before an accident resulting in an ensuing explosion accompanied by fireballs in front of a Redeemed Christian Church of God.

“The resultant fire quickly spread to the church and an adjoining bungalow building as well as four different brands of vehicles as it was being mitigated from causing further damage.”

She added that there was no human casualty at the time of sending the statement.

“While firefighting operations are ongoing, there has been no record of a casualty with a further update to follow,” Adeseye said.

PUNCH Metro reported on February 14 that a seven-storey commercial building located in the Iddo area of Lagos Island was gutted by fire.

Our correspondent learnt from Adeseye that the fire which started at about 10 am,  emanated from the archival room of the building which housed commercial banks and a bottling company among other businesses.