'How swift emergency response averted disasters in Otedola, Sangotedo'
By Ntakobong Otongaran Lagos State emergency response agencies demonstrated operational readiness over the weekend as they successfully contained two major fire incidents in different parts of the state, preventing what
By Ntakobong Otongaran
Lagos State emergency response agencies demonstrated operational readiness over the weekend as they successfully contained two major fire incidents in different parts of the state, preventing what could have escalated into city wide disasters.
The incidents, which occurred on Saturday, within hours of each other, along the Lagos Ibadan Expressway and the Lekki Epe corridor, tested the capacity of traffic and fire management authorities to respond to high risk emergencies.
At the Otedola Bridge axis, a late night fire involving a Mack truck conveying an empty 20 foot container was swiftly contained by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service.
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The truck was said to have burst into flames while in motion along the Secretariat inward Otedola Bridge stretch, raising fears among motorists due to the strategic importance and history of accidents in the area.
LASTMA operatives were first on the scene and promptly rescued the driver unhurt before activating emergency protocols and coordinating with firefighters to put out the blaze.
Their quick intervention ensured that the fire did not spread to other vehicles or nearby infrastructure, while traffic was efficiently managed to minimise disruption along the busy corridor.
However, in a more severe incident hours earlier, two persons lost their lives after a tipper truck rammed into a fully loaded gas tanker at Tera Ahmed bus stop in the Sangotedo area along the Lekki Epe Expressway.
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The collision triggered a powerful explosion and fire that spread to three warehouses and about 10 roadside shops, including a gym and a generator house.
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Emergency responders, including multiple fire crews, were deployed following a distress call received at about 02:36am, as the blaze threatened to escalate into a major catastrophe.
The Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said the combined efforts of firefighters from Lekki Phase II, Oniru and Epe II stations brought the situation under control after an intensive operation.
She confirmed that the tipper driver and his assistant died in the incident, while the driver of the gas tanker escaped unhurt.
Adeseye noted that the fire was prevented from reaching a nearby filling station and a fully loaded 33,000 litre petrol tanker, a development that significantly reduced the scale of destruction that could have occurred.
In both incidents, emergency teams were able to secure the scenes, contain the fires and restore normalcy within hours, highlighting the growing capacity of Lagos State’s emergency management architecture.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, commended operatives for their professionalism and rapid response, noting that their actions were critical in averting large scale loss of lives and property.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the incidents showed the importance of strict adherence to traffic regulations and the state’s sustained investment in emergency response systems.
He said, “This administration will continue to strengthen enforcement and emergency response capacity across critical corridors. These incidents clearly show that rapid intervention can make the difference between a manageable situation and a major disaster. We urge all road users to act responsibly and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy at all times.”
