On Wednesday, a compressed‑natural‑gas (CNG) powered Hiace bus burst into flames on the Lagos‑bound section of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway at Berger Bus Stop, leaving 17 passengers and the driver unharmed and one male passenger with severe burn injuries.
The fully loaded bus, registration number EKY 798 YK, was carrying 18 occupants from the Mowe‑Ibafo axis toward Lagos when the explosion occurred. Eyewitnesses reported that the vehicle erupted into fire, causing panic among passengers and motorists alike. The injured passenger was immediately transported to the Lagos State Trauma and Emergency Centre at Toll Gate for urgent treatment.
Emergency responders arrived quickly. Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) personnel, led by General Manager Olalekan Bakare‑Oki through Director of Public Affairs Adebayo Taofiq, evacuated the occupants while officers of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service extinguished the blaze to prevent it from spreading. Ojodu Police Division officers maintained security and order throughout the rescue and firefighting operations.
“The incident underscores the importance of rapid emergency response and inter‑agency synergy in mitigating road disasters,” said Bakare‑Oki. He praised the swift intervention of LASTMA, the Fire and Rescue Service and the Police Force, and urged commercial transport operators—particularly those running CNG‑powered vehicles—to prioritise regular professional inspections, adhere to safety standards and ensure proper maintenance of their gas storage and delivery systems.
The Lagos–Ibadan Expressway is a major artery linking Nigeria’s capital Lagos with the city of Ibadan, and incidents such as this highlight the need for stringent safety measures on one of the country’s busiest highways.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
