At least 17 passengers escaped unhurt after a Compressed Natural Gas, CNG-powered commercial bus exploded and caught fire along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday.

The incident occurred at Berger Bus Stop on the Lagos-bound section of the expressway, involving a fully loaded Toyota Hiace bus with registration number EKY 798 YK.

The vehicle was reportedly conveying 18 occupants, including the driver, from the Mowe-Ibafo axis towards Lagos when an explosion in its gas system triggered a fire, causing panic among passengers and other road users.

While 17 occupants escaped without injuries, a male passenger seated at the rear of the bus sustained severe burns.

He was evacuated to the Lagos State Trauma and Emergency Centre at the Toll Gate for urgent medical attention.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, said its personnel promptly mobilised to the scene to evacuate the occupants.
Personnel of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service extinguished the fire to prevent it from spreading, while officers from the Ojodu Police Division provided security and maintained order during the rescue operation.

LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, urged commercial transport operators, especially those using CNG-powered vehicles, to prioritise regular professional inspections, adhere to safety standards and ensure proper maintenance of gas storage and delivery systems.