President Muhammadu Buhari has described the fuel tanker fire experienced in Lagos on Thursday evening as one of the greatest tragedies witnessed in the country in recent times.
Buhari stated this in a statement made available to journalists by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
The President expressed shock and sorrow over the fire in which many people are feared killed with several vehicles burnt.
Buhari said in reaction to the early reports reaching him concerning the incident that he was sad to learn of the tragic loss of lives, tens of vehicles, property and other valuables in the petrol tanker fire.
He expressed his condolences to the government and people of Lagos State on the tragedy.
“Sadly, this seems to be one of the greatest tragedies we have seen in recent times,” Buhari said.
The President urged the emergency services and law enforcement officials to do their best to limit the losses and damage from the incident.
He said the priority now should be how to save those people who could still be in danger.
A fuel tanker caught fire on Otedola Bridge outward Lagos on Thursday evening, with many vehicles trapped in the growing fire.
Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and Lagos Fire Service have been mobilised, reports the rapid Response Squad via its Twitter handle, @rrslagos767.
The RRS said its men were “on ground to manage the situation.”
LASEMA officials and other government agents were seen with body bags, confirming fears that many road users may have died in the incident.
The fire was brought under control about an hour after the outbreak, as men of the Lagos State Fire Service tackled it.
The fire involved a fuel tanker and about 30 vehicles.
The Federal Road Safety Corps confirmed the story, even as it warned road users to avoid the scene of the inferno.
As of the time of filing this report, tens of vehicles were caught in the inferno, and many are feared dead.
Tanker explodes on Otedola bridge, many killed, vehicles burnt
Reports add that the traffic backlog as a result of the explosion extends as far back as the Third Mainland Bridge, backing up to the UNILAG water-front.
