A typical Saturday morning quickly turned into chaos in Lagos, Nigeria, as a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus suddenly burst into flames along the bustling streets of Maryland. The incident sent shockwaves through the community, leaving passengers scrambling for safety while the driver and conductor made a quick escape.
As the sun was rising over Lagos State, the BRT bus embarked on its routine journey from Ikorodu to CMS. However, what seemed like an ordinary commute soon turned into a nightmare for everyone on board. Eyewitnesses recounted how smoke ominously started to billow from the driver’s side of the bus, signaling impending danger.
“At first, we thought the smoke was just from other vehicles,” shared a female passenger who was onboard during the terrifying ordeal. “But as it grew thicker, panic set in among us all. We knew we had to get off that bus before it was too late.” The urgency of the situation became evident as flames erupted, engulfing the vehicle in a fiery inferno.
In a heart-wrenching twist, passengers were left shocked and abandoned by both the driver and conductor who fled hastily from the scene without looking back. One distressed passenger lamented, “They didn’t even hesitate or check if we were safe. It was clear they knew something was wrong with the bus beforehand; our lives were put at risk.”
Fortunately, amidst the chaos and fear that gripped Maryland that morning, emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene to douse the flames and ensure no injuries occurred. Authorities from various agencies such as Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos State Fire Service, and local security personnel united in their efforts to contain the situation.
Witnesses breathed a sigh of relief knowing that despite the harrowing experience they endured, there were no reported injuries or casualties resulting from this alarming incident. However, this episode serves as another stark reminder of a troubling trend plaguing Lagos—a series of fire outbreaks involving BRT buses that have rattled commuters’ confidence in public transportation safety.
Pattern of Concern
Saturday’s blaze adds to an unsettling pattern where BRT buses have been at risk of catching fire while ferrying passengers across busy routes in Lagos. Earlier this year in January, another BRT bus bearing plate number ‘LND-315XR’ became engulfed in flames near Ojota along Ikorodu Road during transit towards Fadeyi.
The Foundation for Investigative Journalism shed light on how witnesses managed to subdue smoke emanating from that fiery ordeal with lingering traces of an acrid stench filling their senses. Despite passengers disembarking safely without harm done physically—a stark contrast to their mental anguish—the driver later revealed shocking negligence regarding improper engine oil usage due to an unfortunate supply mix-up.
Concerns Over Maintenance
Reports surfaced revealing concerns raised by vigilant citizens regarding inadequate vehicle maintenance practices within state-owned transport systems like LAMATA (Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority) and LBSL (Lagos Bus Services Limited). These incidents highlight potential lapses in ensuring regular servicing routines are upheld diligently—an essential aspect often overlooked but crucial for commuter safety.
Tragically not an isolated case either; back in 2023 saw another distressing event unfolding when a collision involving two commercial vehicles resulted in yet another BRT bus succumbing to flames—this time near Alapere district claiming one life among those involved.
Such repeated catastrophic events underscore serious questions surrounding maintenance culture protocols governing public transport operations within bustling metropolises like Lagos.
