Tension gripped the Apapa area of Lagos State on Monday morning, January 19, after a tanker laden with diesel overturned on the Liverpool Bridge, prompting residents to risk their lives by scooping fuel from the fallen vehicle.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the day, caused significant disruption to traffic and raised serious safety concerns, as large numbers of people converged on the scene with jerrycans and buckets to collect the spilled diesel.
Confirming the development in a statement shared via its official X handle, the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) said traffic had been diverted to the opposite side of the bridge as part of emergency safety measures.
LASTMA explained that the diversion was necessary to prevent further accidents and to allow emergency responders to secure the area and manage the situation effectively.
According to the agency, several emergency and security agencies were immediately deployed to the scene to avert a potential disaster, particularly the risk of fire or explosion associated with fuel spillage.
Operatives of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Nigeria Police Force, and LASTMA were reported to be on ground, working to control the situation and discourage residents from endangering their lives.
Also present at the scene were personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), reflecting the gravity of the incident and the strategic importance of the Apapa axis.
“Their presence is to prevent fire outbreaks, ensure the evacuation of the truck, and guarantee the free flow of traffic,” the statement said.
Despite repeated warnings by authorities, videos circulating on social media showed scores of residents flocking to the scene, with many scooping diesel from the overturned tanker using plastic containers, jerrycans, and buckets.
The footage sparked widespread concern online, with many Nigerians lamenting the persistent trend of citizens exposing themselves to grave danger in the quest to collect fuel from accident scenes.
Safety experts have repeatedly warned that diesel spillages pose serious risks, including fire outbreaks, inhalation of toxic fumes, and environmental pollution, especially in densely populated and highly industrialised areas such as Apapa.
Authorities urged residents to stay away from the area and allow emergency teams to carry out their duties, stressing that no amount of fuel is worth the loss of lives.
As at the time of filing this report, efforts were ongoing to evacuate the overturned tanker and restore normal traffic flow on the Liverpool Bridge, a critical route linking the Apapa port corridor to other parts of Lagos.
The incident has once again highlighted the need for sustained public awareness on safety and the dangers associated with fuel scooping, as well as stricter enforcement of safety regulations around accident scenes.
