Yinka Olaito
“At least ten lives were lost, Thousands of naira of our goods put here on sale as well as houses and cars were burnt. Something has to be done on this Otdeola bridge. While some accidents cannot be avoidable. Some are basically man-made and avoidable. There seems to be more than more than meets the eyes. In fact, I am confused”
The above is the voice of an artisan, who daily displays his wares around and under Otedola bridge along Berger road here in Lagos. He was happy that at least he narrowly escaped being burnt like one of his colleagues, an auto-mechanic within the same perimeter.
According to this source, who pleaded anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said that there was a probability his auto-mechanic friend could have made it if not because he was trying to reduce his losses.
Immediately the mechanic discovered his own car was on fire, he ran to save the car of one of his clients, but unfortunately the inferno caught up with him.
Millions of properties lost
Even though the Lagos State Emergency Management turned up on time, it was very clear the fire took long to be put off. Several cars were burnt, a residential building of a popular Pentecostal church, which was recently completed and made for use about 2-3 years ago, really had major damage.
For many of the artisans, petty traders who display their wares around the place, the fire incident is not what many want to remember in a hurry.. For those whose shops are a bit far, closer to a gas station, things may not be as bad as those whose ware are directly under the bridge or closer to Otedola Estate.
Another church premise which was very close to Otedola Estate was also affected.
When asked why many of the artisans always return to the same spot since they knew incidence of huge magnitude often occurs around the place often. I reminded one of them that starting from 2018, when a major fire explosion occurred in the place, why do they always return as soon as the dust settles?
“This is the only place I get my daily needs met. The little art drawing I sell here helps me to put food on my table”. Another artisan, a motor mechanic said “I was chased where I used to be and coming here, I was lucky to be allowed to work without much trouble”.
The fire explosion of Tuesday 11 March, 2025
An explosion that occurred on Tuesday night following a 30-tonne gas truck near the Otedola Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway had left many injured about 10 human beings dead and at least two building destroyed
The 30 tonnes DAF Gas Truck is said to have no registration number to track it was on its way navigating the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway before an accident, an explosion accompanied by fireballs in front of a Pentecostal church within the otedola under bridge axis.
From 2018 several fire accidents, always related to truck, fuel tankers, had been a regular occurrence in the area. One of the substantial accidents with many casualties happened in 2018 where a fuel-laden tanker reportedly lost control due to brake failure and overturned, spilling its contents on the road. The spilled fuel ignited, leading to a massive fire that engulfed several vehicles.
