One passenger sustained severe burn injuries, while 17 others escaped unhurt after a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered commercial bus exploded and burst into flames along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The incident occurred at Berger Bus Stop on the Lagos-bound section of the expressway when the Toyota Hiace bus, with registration number EKY 798 YK, reportedly caught fire following a gas explosion.
The bus was conveying 18 occupants, including the driver, from Mowe-Ibafo to Lagos when the explosion triggered panic among motorists and passengers.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said its personnel swiftly evacuated 17 occupants, while the injured passenger, who was seated at the rear of the bus, was rushed to the Lagos State Trauma and Emergency Centre, Toll Gate, for treatment.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service subsequently extinguished the inferno, while policemen from the Ojodu Division secured the scene.
LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, commended the agency’s personnel and other emergency responders for their swift intervention, which prevented further casualties.
He urged commercial transport operators, particularly those using CNG-powered vehicles, to ensure regular professional inspections and proper maintenance of their gas storage and delivery systems.
Bakare-Oki also stressed the need for strict compliance with safety standards to prevent avoidable accidents, reaffirming LASTMA’s commitment to protecting lives and improving road safety across Lagos State.
