Petrol Tanker Explosion Rocks Ibadan, No Casualties Reported
A petroleum tanker carrying 33,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, exploded on July 17, 2025, at Celica Junction on the New Ife Expressway in Ibadan, Oyo State, causing significant damage but no loss of life. The incident, attributed to brake failure, led to a fire that engulfed the tanker, a car, and a Toyota Prado jeep, which was pushed into a nearby gutter by the impact.
Eyewitnesses reported: “The tanker hit a Prado jeep and another car. And in the process, the tanker fell and exploded. Although no casualty was recorded, the fire affected the car and the Prado jeep.” The explosion triggered panic and heavy traffic gridlock along the Ibadan-Ife highway in Egbeda Local Government Area.
Maroof Akinwande, Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, confirmed the incident, stating: “The incident was reported at exactly 18.27hrs on Thursday. The firemen swiftly swung into action by applying chemical foam compound and restricted the fire from spreading to the nearby Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation petrol station and surrounding properties.
The fire incident was as a result of failure of breaking in system of the truck whilst on motion which made the vehicle lose control, hit a Prado jeep and a car, then fell and caught fire.
No casualty was recorded but the fire affected the trailer tanker and a car, while a Jeep was hit by the trailer into the nearby gutter.” Firefighters, supported by the Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Police Force (Egbeda Division), NSCDC, Amotekun Corps, and Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority, extinguished the blaze, preventing further damage to nearby properties.
This incident follows a pattern of tanker accidents in Nigeria, with previous explosions in Ibadan (September 2024,,) and elsewhere (e.g., Jigawa, October 2024,,), often linked to poor road conditions and vehicle maintenance. The swift response in Ibadan underscores improved coordination among emergency services, averting a repeat of past tragedies with high casualty counts.
