Seventeen passengers and a driver narrowly escaped death after a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered commercial bus burst into flames at Berger Bus Stop along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, leaving one passenger with severe burn injuries.
The incident involved a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number EKY 798 YK, which was reportedly conveying 18 passengers from the Mowe-Ibafo axis to Lagos when the fire broke out.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), in a statement on Tuesday, said its officials rescued the occupants and immediately evacuated the injured passenger, a man seated at the rear of the vehicle, to the Lagos State Trauma and Emergency Centre at Toll Gate for urgent treatment.
The agency’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, disclosed that the victim sustained severe burns during the incident.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service later brought the fire under control, while operatives of the Ojodu Police Division secured the scene and maintained order during the rescue operation.
Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, praised the agency’s officers and other emergency responders for their swift intervention, which helped prevent further casualties.
He said the incident underscored the importance of prompt emergency response, effective coordination among relevant agencies and the deployment of trained personnel during road emergencies.
Bakare-Oki also warned commercial transport operators against neglecting vehicle safety, urging them to subject their CNG-powered buses to regular professional inspections and ensure proper maintenance of gas storage and delivery systems.
He stressed that strict adherence to safety standards was critical to preventing similar incidents and protecting passengers.
