A diesel tanker overturned early Monday morning on the Tincan–Liverpool Bridge in Apapa, Lagos, leading to a hazardous situation as residents and passersby rushed to scoop fuel spilling from the vehicle.
The incident occurred during the morning rush hour, causing traffic disruption along the busy corridor. Eyewitnesses said that before traffic officials arrived at the scene, dozens of people converged on the bridge with jerrycans and improvised containers to collect the highly combustible diesel, raising serious safety concerns.
Videos circulating on social media showed the crowd gathered around the fallen tanker as fuel leaked onto the roadway, despite the obvious risk of fire or explosion.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) later confirmed that emergency responders had brought the situation under control. In a statement posted on X, the agency said the affected section of the Liverpool Bridge had been reopened after officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service neutralised the spilled fuel.
“The road on Liverpool Bridge inward Apapa that was cordoned off has now been reopened after the contents were neutralised by men of the Lagos State Fire Service,” LASTMA said. “Our officials are doing the needful, and traffic is expected to improve while we await the arrival of a tow truck to remove the tanker.”
Earlier, LASTMA had advised motorists to plan their movements, noting that fire service personnel and rescue teams were on ground while a counterflow traffic control system was being implemented. Traffic along the corridor was described as extremely slow at the time.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the recurring and dangerous practice of fuel scooping in Nigeria. Similar episodes in the past have ended in tragedy.
In October 2024, over 100 people lost their lives after a petrol tanker exploded along the Kano–Hadejia Expressway in Jigawa State, with many of the victims reportedly attempting to retrieve fuel from the fallen vehicle. Another fatal incident occurred in October 2025 in Essa community along the Agaie–Bida Road in Niger State, where a tanker caught fire, killing several residents who had gathered to collect spilled fuel.
Authorities continue to warn the public against approaching fallen tankers, stressing that fuel scooping poses grave risks to lives and property.
