On Thursday, a diesel tanker went up in flames along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, specifically at the Ugwu-Onyeama section in Enugu State. According to eyewitness accounts reported by The Whistler, the fire was preceded by a diesel spill, which likely contributed to the explosion. The incident caused widespread panic and triggered a severe traffic jam along the busy highway.

To manage the situation and ensure the safety of road users, officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) quickly intervened. They redirected traffic through the Ngwo-Miliken Hills route, popularly referred to as the “Ngwo Snake Road,” which is known for its winding path. This diversion helped keep vehicles and pedestrians away from the danger zone while emergency services worked to contain the fire.

The FRSC Sector Commander in Enugu State, Mr. Franklin Agbakoba, confirmed the incident occurred at approximately 6:16 p.m. He clarified that the accident involved only the tanker and no other vehicles were affected. Fortunately, there were no fatalities at the time of reporting. Firefighters from both the federal and state fire services responded promptly to prevent the blaze from spreading, while rescue teams from the FRSC’s State Sector and the 9th Mile Unit were deployed to manage the scene.

In the wake of the incident, local drivers have renewed calls for the federal government to expedite the long-overdue dualisation of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. A commercial driver, Joseph Obetta, lamented the condition of the Ugwu-Onyeama stretch, describing it as notoriously dangerous. He recalled a previous tragedy involving a gas tanker explosion in the same area and emphasized that completing the road project could help prevent such disasters in the future. According to him, “The government needs to finish that road. It’s been delayed for too long, and every accident here is a disaster.”