Four Injured as Tanker Collision Sparks LNG Explosion on Zaria–Kaduna Expressway

Four persons are receiving treatment at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika, after a collision between two tankers triggered a massive fireball on Monday morning in the Dan Magaji area along the Zaria–Kaduna Expressway.

The incident, which occurred at about 8:30 a.m., involved a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-laden tanker and an empty tanker.

The force of the crash ignited an inferno that engulfed both vehicles, leaving the victims with varying degrees of burns.

Confirming the accident, the Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Zaria, Nasir Falgore, said preliminary findings revealed that the LNG tanker crashed into the rear of the empty tanker after the latter suffered a sudden tyre blowout.

“Our initial investigation shows that the gas-laden tanker collided with the empty tanker from behind after it had a tyre puncture. The LNG driver could not stop in time, leading to the collision and subsequent explosion,” Falgore explained.

The crash caused a major traffic gridlock on the busy expressway, a key transport link between Kaduna and Kano.

Falgore urged drivers, particularly those transporting hazardous materials, to exercise greater caution.
“Pre-trip checks are essential, as well as maintaining safe following distances and avoiding excessive speed. For tankers carrying LNG or fuel, one mistake can have devastating consequences,” he warned.

The Area Commander of the Federal Fire Service in Zaria, Aminu Kiyawa, said firefighters responded within minutes of receiving an emergency call from passers-by.

“When we got to the scene, both tankers were already engulfed in flames. Our immediate focus was to rescue trapped victims and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby properties,” Kiyawa stated.

According to him, three victims sustained burns from the LNG tanker explosion, while another person was rescued from the second vehicle. All were stabilised at the scene before being rushed to ABUTH for specialised care.

Kiyawa dismissed rumours circulating online that smaller vehicles were involved.
“Only the two tankers were affected, and no fatalities had been recorded when we left the scene,” he clarified.

The commander also noted the specialised approach required to battle LNG fires.
“Gas fires are different from petrol fires. We used foam and controlled water application to cool the tankers and prevent further explosions,” he explained.

Eyewitnesses said the blast was heard several kilometres away. Local trader Mallam Musa Garba likened it to a bomb detonation.

“I was in my shop when I heard a deafening bang, followed by thick smoke. People were running in all directions,” he recalled.

Another resident, Mrs. Jummai Umar, said she initially feared it was a terrorist attack.
“The flames were so high, and people were shouting. Some tried to throw water on the fire, but it was impossible to control,” she said.

Monday’s crash adds to a worrying trend of tanker-related accidents in Kaduna State. In 2021, a petrol tanker explosion on the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway killed at least seven people, while another in Makarfi Local Government in 2023 claimed three lives.

Many residents say the Zaria–Kaduna stretch is particularly notorious, citing reckless driving and poor safety compliance by some heavy-duty drivers. Commercial driver Haruna Bello, who plies the route daily, lamented that “overtaking on bends, speeding downhill, and overloading are common sights.”

A Red Cross volunteer who helped evacuate the victims stressed the need for better emergency coverage along the highway.

“High-risk areas like Dan Magaji need more emergency response stations. Sometimes help comes too late, and by then the damage is irreversible,” he said.

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