Otedola Bridge (also called Michael Otedola Bridge) on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has earned a grim reputation as one of Lagos’s most dangerous stretches of road. Its steep gradient, heavy traffic, and frequent passage of poorly maintained fuel tankers have repeatedly produced crashes, spills, and infernos. Here are five of the most severe tanker-related disasters on or under the bridge.

1. June 28, 2018 – The Deadliest Inferno (12 deaths, 54 vehicles destroyed)

A Mack tanker carrying about 33,000 litres of petrol suffered brake failure while heading toward Berger, overturned, spilled its load, and exploded. The fire rapidly engulfed vehicles stuck in evening traffic. Official tallies settled at 12 deaths (including a minor), with several bodies burned beyond recognition and requiring DNA identification. Four people survived with severe burns. Fifty-four vehicles—including the tanker, buses, trucks, a tricycle, and dozens of cars—were completely destroyed. The disaster prompted Lagos to introduce tighter restrictions on tanker movement hours.

2. March 11, 2025 – Gas Tanker Explosion Under the Bridge (2–4 deaths, multiple vehicles and structures burned)

A 30-tonne gas (AGO) tanker overturned while negotiating a bend near Omole/inward Berger and exploded. Flames spread to nearby vehicles, a mechanic village, a Redeemed Christian Church of God building, a bungalow, and other structures. LASEMA confirmed two adult male deaths and six injuries (three with severe burns). Reports varied on the exact death toll (some unofficial accounts claimed higher). Around 12 vehicles, eight tricycles, and parts of buildings were destroyed. The incident renewed calls for a full technical audit of the bridge’s design and gradient.

3. October 19, 2026 – Diesel Tanker Plunge and Fire (2 injured)

A diesel-laden tanker sped, lost control on the outward section of the expressway, plunged into the underpass beneath Otedola Bridge, and burst into flames. The Federal Road Safety Corps attributed the crash to speeding. Two adult male occupants sustained injuries (including burns) and were taken to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre; no fatalities were initially reported. Firefighters contained the blaze, but the incident again highlighted ongoing risks on the corridor just one day before this listicle’s reference point.

4. December 19, 2020 – Diesel Tanker Explosion (vehicles destroyed, narrow escapes / up to 11 injured in some reports)

A tanker loaded with roughly 44,000 litres of diesel had a tyre catch fire while travelling toward Berger. Instead of stopping, the driver reversed, colliding with a haulage truck and a Toyota Camry carrying a family of six. The vehicles erupted in flames. Occupants of the Camry, the truck, and the tanker itself escaped with their lives in most accounts, though some reports noted up to 11 people injured. The fire caused major traffic chaos and underscored how quickly a mechanical issue can escalate into an inferno on the bridge.

5. March 27, 2021 – Multi-Vehicle Tanker Fire (6+ vehicles burned)

In the early hours, a fuel/diesel tanker collided with a truck (amid other vehicles already involved in an earlier incident) and exploded near the bridge, inward Berger. At least six vehicles were destroyed, including tankers, container trucks, and a car; emergency crews managed to save one additional diesel tanker from the flames. No deaths were recorded, but the fire burned for hours and created severe traffic disruption. It was one of several tanker-related blazes that year on the same stretch.