Residents and commuters were thrown into confusion and fear on Friday evening after a loud explosion jolted the area near Ikeja Under Bridge, close to the Cash & Carry store on Kodesho Road, heading toward Awolowo Way.
The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m., with the shockwave from the blast reverberating through the vicinity and prompting people nearby to flee.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the explosion stemmed from a solar inverter failure.
“The explosion was caused by an inverter that blew up. The Lagos Fire and Rescue Service is already on the scene.There’s heavy traffic in the area, and people were seen running in panic,” said Rabiu Abass in a statement to Vanguard.
Emergency teams, including personnel from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, responded swiftly, working to control the resulting fire.
Providing reassurance, the Director of the Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, addressed the public:“There is no cause for alarm. The situation is under control,” she said.
Despite these assurances, firefighting efforts were still underway as of 8:30 p.m. at a building affected by the explosion.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) also acknowledged the incident via a post on X (formerly Twitter), confirming that officers had diverted traffic away from the General Hospital area beneath the bridge, redirecting vehicles through the Oba Akran Bridge to ensure road users’ safety.
Footage from the scene showed a car with shattered windows on its right side. In the background, a visibly shaken woman was heard expressing gratitude: “I thought it injured me. Father, I thank you,” she said as she inspected her damaged vehicle.
Another witness, who goes by the name The KVNG (@Teclef) on X, described how close he was to the blast: “I was in the middle of the road, about to cross to the front of the explosion.”
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