A tragic gas explosion near Otedola Bridge in Lagos has sparked outrage after it claimed the life of a dedicated auto mechanic, Rotimi Olaleye, who reportedly stayed behind in an attempt to save his customer’s car instead of fleeing for safety. The incident, which occurred on March 11, 2025, also claimed the lives of at least five others, including a staff member of Zenith Bank and his wife, who had just resumed work from vacation that day.
The explosion, caused by a tanker carrying gas that lost control and crashed, turned the sky blue before erupting into flames. Olaleye’s apprentices, who managed to escape, recounted that their boss urged them to flee while he stayed behind to move his customer’s vehicle. Tragically, he did not survive.
According to a firsthand witness, journalist Oladipo, he was only 10 seconds away from Olaleye’s location with his family when the disaster struck. *“I had just told him we would arrive in one minute,”* he wrote, expressing deep pain over the loss. His last phone call to Olaleye, meant to warn him to abandon the car and run, went unanswered.
Delayed Emergency Response Under Scrutiny
Although Lagos State emergency responders have been praised for their eventual efforts, questions remain about whether Olaleye’s life could have been saved. Witnesses claim that only one fire truck arrived 15 to 20 minutes after the fire began. Another 15 to 20 minutes passed before backup arrived. By the time Olaleye was found, he was still breathing but received no timely medical assistance.
The Lagos State Government did well, but it was not enough,Oladipo lamented.
Company Behind Tanker Faces Backlash
The gas tanker responsible for the explosion belonged to Second Coming Gas Company, which has since reached out to some victims and local mechanics to discuss compensation. However, critics argue that the company’s negligence is to blame, as witnesses reported that the tanker was already faulty before the crash. “The driver was clearly struggling to manage the vehicle into the gas station, Oladipo wrote, adding that the disaster could have been even worse had the explosion occurred inside the station, which is surrounded by drinking bars and businesses.
Are Lagos Traffic Laws Failing the People?
The incident has reignited debates over road safety enforcement in Lagos, with accusations that agencies like the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) focus more on private vehicle owners while allowing commercial drivers—especially those operating heavy-duty vehicles—to violate traffic laws with impunity.
Until these agencies fully enforce the law, reckless truck drivers will continue to endanger lives, the journalist stated.
As the dust settles on yet another preventable tragedy, Lagosians are left wondering: How many more lives will be lost before authorities take decisive action against unsafe trucking practices?
