Metro

Residents scoop diesel as tanker overturns on Liverpool bridge in Apapa

Joseph Chukwu
Residents scoop petrol from overturned tanker.
A diesel-laden tanker on Monday overturned on the Liverpool Bridge in the Apapa area of Lagos State, spilling its contents onto the roadway and causing traffic disruption.

The incident attracted a crowd of residents who were seen scooping the highly inflammable diesel into jerrycans and buckets, despite the obvious safety risks.

In a statement posted on X, the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) said traffic was immediately diverted to the opposite side of the bridge as a safety precaution.

According to the agency, emergency responders including officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Nigeria Police Force, and LASTMA were promptly deployed to the scene to prevent a fire outbreak and manage traffic.

Also present were personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

“Their presence is to prevent fire outbreaks, evacuate the fallen tanker and ensure the free flow of traffic,” LASTMA said.

As of the time of reporting, the cause of the accident had not been established, though brake failure was suspected.

Videos shared by LASTMA showed several individuals gathering at the scene to scoop diesel from the fallen tanker. No fire outbreak was reported.

LASTMA later announced that the section of the road earlier cordoned off had been reopened after the spilled diesel was neutralised by the Lagos State Fire Service.

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“The Liverpool Bridge inward Apapa has been reopened after the contents were neutralised. LASTMA officials are managing traffic, while a tow truck is being awaited for the recovery of the tanker,” the agency said.

However, vehicular movement along the corridor remained slow as traffic control measures, including counter-flow, were temporarily in use.

LASTMA urged motorists and members of the public to avoid the area and adhere to safety instructions as recovery operations continue.