Ibadan Erupts in Flames as Tanker Crashes and Explodes Near NNPC Station

A major disaster was narrowly averted in Ibadan on Thursday evening after a petroleum tanker carrying 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) caught fire following a brake failure along the New Ife Expressway, near Celica Junction. The tanker reportedly lost control, crashed into a Toyota Prado Jeep and another vehicle, before toppling and bursting into flames.

According to iReporter Online, the incident caused widespread panic in the area but, remarkably, no casualties were recorded. However, the resulting blaze destroyed the tanker and a car, while the impact of the collision pushed the Prado Jeep into a roadside drainage.

The Oyo State Fire Service, led by its Chairman, Hon. Maroof Akinwande, confirmed the incident and credited the swift response of emergency teams with preventing a larger catastrophe. In a statement shared after the incident, Akinwande noted that the fire was reported at exactly 6:27 p.m., prompting immediate intervention from both state and federal fire personnel.

According to iReporter Online, firefighters quickly deployed chemical foam compounds to contain the blaze and successfully stopped it from spreading to nearby properties, including a filling station operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), located just metres away from the crash site.

The fire, which was triggered by mechanical failure in the tanker’s braking system, highlights the continuing dangers of transporting flammable products across urban centres without stringent safety oversight. According to iReporter Online, residents of the area described the explosion as deafening, praising the quick action of fire responders for averting what could have become a mass casualty disaster.