Nigeria, June 12 -- Traffic along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway came to a halt on Wednesday after a petrol-laden tanker overturned and caught fire near the NASFAT Camp, leaving thousands of commuters stranded for hours.

Witnesses said the tanker, which had earlier toppled while in motion, burst into flames shortly afterwards, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky and triggering panic among motorists and nearby residents.

The resulting fire rendered part of the expressway impassable, causing severe congestion and chaos on both sides of the road. Desperate drivers abandoned traffic rules, with many turning onto the wrong lane in a bid to escape the gridlock-a recurring pattern on the expressway during emergencies.

When this repo...