A petrol tanker carrying 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) exploded on Thursday evening at Celica Junction along the new Ife Expressway in Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to eyewitness accounts, the explosion occurred after the tanker reportedly experienced brake failure, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle then collided with a Toyota Prado SUV and another car before toppling over and bursting into flames.
“There were no fatalities, but the fire damaged both the Prado and the other vehicle,” a witness at the scene reported.
The Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Ibadan. He said the fire was reported at 6:27 p.m., and emergency responders acted swiftly.
“Our team, in collaboration with the Federal Fire Service, managed to contain the fire using chemical foam compounds,” Akinwande stated. “We were able to stop the fire from spreading to a nearby NNPC filling station and surrounding properties.”
He further explained that the brake failure caused the tanker to hit the two vehicles before overturning. While no casualties were recorded, the explosion affected the tanker and one car, and the Prado SUV was forced into a nearby drainage channel.
