The Federal Ministry of Works has confirmed that the Otedola Bridge in Lagos remains structurally sound and is not at risk following a gas tanker fire on Tuesday night.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, made the clarification on Wednesday morning after inspecting the scene of the incident.

Kesha, who visited the site, confirmed that the inferno, which claimed four lives, did not cause any damage to the bridge.

“The Otedola Bridge was not in any way affected by the fire,” she said.

She commended emergency responders for their swift action in containing the fire and stressed the importance of vehicle maintenance, urging drivers to prioritise safety to prevent such incidents.

“This incident serves as a wake-up call for vehicle owners to ensure proper maintenance at all times,” she added.

One of the victims of the fire, journalist Mr Abiola Ismaeel, revealed that his vehicle was among those destroyed.

“My vehicle, a Peugeot 607, was among those consumed by the fire. I had brought it here three days ago for my mechanic to fix, and now I am completely at a loss. I do not know what to do,” Ismaeel lamented.

As of 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, emergency responders were still clearing the debris from the tanker and conducting clean-up operations at the site.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the accident occurred when the tanker driver lost control due to brake failure, causing the vehicle to overturn and spill its contents, which subsequently ignited.