A potentially catastrophic fire disaster was narrowly averted in the Apapa area of Lagos on Monday, thanks to the swift and coordinated response of emergency agencies. The incident involved an articulated Iveco tanker, loaded with diesel, which overturned on the Liverpool Bridge, inward Mile 2.
Swift Response Averts Catastrophe
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service moved quickly to control the dangerous situation. The accident, which occurred on 19 January 2026 at around 3:34pm WAT, saw the tanker with registration number RBC 98 XX lose control and overturn, causing extensive damage and spilling large volumes of diesel across the carriageway.
The danger was amplified as the highly flammable fuel spilled from the elevated bridge to the ground below. This attracted a crowd of individuals who began attempting to scoop the diesel, a reckless act that significantly increased the risk of a deadly explosion or fire outbreak.
Dangerous Scooping and Coordinated Control
In a statement, Adebayo Taofiq, Director of the Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department at LASTMA, detailed the emergency protocol. He confirmed that LASTMA operatives immediately dispersed the crowd engaged in the dangerous scooping, cordoned off the area, and activated full emergency response by alerting security agencies and the Fire Service.
"The timely intervention of the responders effectively neutralised the imminent threat of a fire outbreak, which could have resulted in serious loss of lives, environmental damage, and destruction of public infrastructure," Taofiq stated.
The injured tanker driver was rescued by LASTMA officials and rushed to the General Hospital in Apapa for urgent medical attention. Officers from the Nigeria Police Force, Area ‘B’ Division, Apapa, provided crucial security support at the scene, assisting with crowd control and traffic regulation.
Officials Commend Response, Issue Stern Warning
To manage the spill, an alternative empty tanker was deployed to transload the remaining diesel, while LASTMA personnel diverted traffic to the opposite carriageway to ensure public safety and maintain vehicular flow.
The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, commended the professionalism and swift action of all responders, noting their efforts prevented a major disaster. Taofiq also relayed a stern warning from the Special Adviser to the public.
Giwa warned members of the public against the extremely dangerous practice of scooping petroleum products—be it diesel or Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)—from accident scenes, emphasizing that it poses a grave threat to lives and property.
The Lagos State Government, through LASTMA, reaffirmed its commitment to proactive traffic management, rapid emergency response, and the protection of lives and critical infrastructure across the state.
