Petrol Tanker Explodes in Ibadan, No Casualties Reported Despite Significant Damage
Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, experienced a significant incident on Thursday, July 17, 2025, around 6:30 PM, when a petrol tanker exploded. The incident, which caused substantial damage to vehicles, fortunately resulted in no reported casualties.
Detailed Account of the Incident:
Location and Time: The explosion occurred at the Celica junction, situated just by Adegbayi, along the new Ife Road in Ibadan. The event took place at approximately 6:30 PM on Thursday, July 17, 2025.
Cause and Sequence of Events: The tanker, carrying a full load of 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, suffered a brake failure while in motion. This mechanical failure caused the driver to lose control. The tanker subsequently collided with a Prado Jeep and another private car before overturning on the open road and immediately bursting into flames, leading to the explosion. Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene as the large vehicle overturned and was engulfed by fire.
Impact and Damage: While remarkably no fatalities or serious injuries were reported, the tanker itself and one private car were completely destroyed by the inferno. The Prado Jeep involved in the collision was pushed into a nearby gutter due to the impact.
Emergency Response and Containment: The rapid and coordinated response of fire service officials was crucial in preventing a much larger catastrophe. The Oyo State Fire Service, led by its General Manager, Akinyinka Akinyemi, swiftly deployed a team of firefighters, augmented by personnel from the Federal Fire Service. They quickly applied chemical foam compound to extinguish the fierce blaze. Their timely intervention was paramount in preventing the fire from spreading to a nearby NNPC petrol station and other surrounding properties, which would have led to an even more devastating conflagration. The fire was successfully brought under control and extinguished around 10:00 PM on Thursday, July 17, with normalcy restored through the joint efforts of the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Amotekun corps, and traffic officers.
Recurring Problem of Tanker Explosions in Nigeria:
This incident, despite its fortunate lack of casualties, serves as a stark reminder of the persistent danger posed by tanker explosions on Nigerian roads. Common contributing factors to such incidents across the country include:
Poor Vehicle Maintenance: Often involving critical components like brakes, as evidenced in this Ibadan case.
Reckless Driving: Driven by factors such as pressure to meet delivery deadlines or inadequate training.
Deplorable Road Conditions: Potholes and general disrepair of roads can cause drivers to lose control.
Lax Enforcement of Safety Regulations: Insufficient oversight regarding vehicle roadworthiness and mandatory driver training.
Human Error: Including driver fatigue and a lack of preparedness for emergency situations.
Fuel Scooping: In past tragedies, attempts by bystanders to scoop spilled fuel from overturned tankers have frequently led to secondary, highly fatal explosions.
The Ibadan tanker explosion underscores the urgent need for comprehensive and stricter safety measures, improved road infrastructure, and rigorous enforcement across Nigeria's transportation sector to mitigate these preventable disasters.
I'm Aisha shehu
Talksocialtalka News
