By Ghazali Ibrahim
Lagos residents and commuters were seen rushing to collect fuel from an overturned petrol tanker on the Tincan–Liverpool Bridge in the Apapa area on Monday morning, sparking serious safety concerns.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday during rush hour when the tanker, reportedly carrying diesel, toppled and spilled its contents across the busy bridge. Initial eyewitness footage shared on social media showed large crowds using jerrycans, buckets and other containers to scoop the highly combustible fuel from beneath the vehicle, despite the evident danger.
In response, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said traffic was diverted and emergency officials were deployed to the scene to avert a major incident.
Collaborating with the Lagos State Fire Service, the Nigeria Police Force and other agencies, responders worked to neutralise the spill and prevent fire outbreaks while awaiting heavy equipment to remove the overturned tanker.
“The diesel is spreading on the bridge as a result of the damaged tank,” LASTMA said in a statement, noting that traffic flow was slow and partially controlled using counter-flow methods. The agency also reopened part of the affected road after firefighters contained the situation.
Video clips from the scene showed a significant number of people gathered around the overturned truck, disregarding warnings about the extreme risk of fire or explosion. Fire services and safety officials remained at the site to discourage further scooping and manage the spill.
The dangerous behaviour echoes past tragedies in Nigeria where tankers have overturned and residents “scooping” fuel have been killed in explosions or fires. Notable incidents include explosions in Jigawa and Niger states that claimed many lives when crowds rushed to collect spilled fuel.
Authorities continue to urge the public to stay clear of accident scenes involving fuel spillages, stressing that the act of gathering petrol or diesel from such situations can trigger deadly fires and should be left to trained emergency responders.
