…The fully loaded tanker reportedly fell off a bridge around midday, spilling diesel onto the roadway and obstructing traffic.
LAGOS, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Tanker overturn in Liverpool, Apapa, Lagos, yesterday narrowly avoided turning deadly after policemen from the Area Command, Apapa, and officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) intervened to disperse residents and onlookers attempting to scoop diesel from the spill.
The fully loaded tanker reportedly fell off a bridge around midday, spilling diesel onto the roadway and obstructing traffic. The spill caused a gridlock that lasted several hours, as motorists and passersby struggled to navigate the affected route.
Witnesses said that immediately after the accident, a number of residents and passersby rushed to the scene to collect the highly flammable diesel, ignoring the obvious risks associated with the act.
The iNews Times reports that a detachment of policemen and LASTMA officials soon arrived and, upon seeing the crowd collecting diesel, moved in to disperse them. Their intervention prevented a possible fire outbreak or other dangerous consequences.
In a statement shared via X, LASTMA confirmed that traffic had been diverted to the other side of the bridge as a safety precaution. Emergency responders from the Lagos State Fire Service, the Nigeria Police Force, and LASTMA remained on site to manage the situation.
Other agencies present at the scene included the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA). According to the statement, the officials’ presence was aimed at preventing fire outbreaks, evacuating vehicles from the affected area, and ensuring a smooth flow of traffic.
At the time of reporting, it was unclear whether the tanker had suffered brake failure. Video footage shared by LASTMA showed several Nigerians gathering jerry cans and buckets to collect diesel from the spill. Fortunately, no fire outbreak was reported at the scene.
By 3 p.m., when the iNews Times visited the location, LASTMA officials had reopened the road, which had earlier been closed to facilitate emergency response and clean-up operations.
