Lagos govt warns residents against fuel scooping as tanker overturns in Apapa

The Lagos State Government has warned residents to stay away from accident scenes following reports of fuel scooping from a fallen tanker at the Tincan–Liverpool Bridge area of Apapa.

The warning followed the overturning of a diesel tanker on the bridge, inward Mile 2, early on Monday, leading to fuel spillage and severe traffic disruption along the busy corridor.

In an urgent situation report, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed that the tanker was leaking diesel and that emergency responders had been immediately deployed.

The statement on Monday by the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said all relevant agencies had been activated.

“Our attention has been brought to a fallen tanker at the above location, which is leaking fuel. All emergency responders have been activated and are en route to the location,” the agency stated.

LASEMA cautioned residents against engaging in dangerous activities around the scene, particularly fuel scooping.

“Members of the public are urged to exercise extreme caution to avoid any secondary incident from scooping product or lighting any flame near the area,” the statement added.

Motorists were also advised to avoid the axis and use alternative routes as the state’s disaster management plan was activated.

Despite the warning, videos circulating on social media showed residents and passersby scooping diesel from the fallen tanker using jerrycans and other containers.

Reacting, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed that the tanker was loaded with diesel and that the product was spreading on the bridge due to damage to the tank.

“There’s a fallen tanker loaded with diesel on top of Liverpool Bridge inward Mile 2. The diesel is spreading on the bridge as a result of the damaged tank,” LASTMA said in a statement on its official X handle.

The authority said officers of the Nigerian Police Force from Area B and other safety agencies had been alerted, while traffic was diverted to reduce risks to commuters.

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“Traffic has been diverted to the other side of the bridge for safety measures. Motorists are advised to adhere strictly to all instructions from traffic managers,” the statement added.

LASTMA later announced that emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, had contained the situation.

“The road on Liverpool Bridge inward Apapa that was cordoned off has been reopened after the contents were neutralised by men of the Lagos State Fire Service,” the agency said, noting that traffic officials were othe n ground while awaiting the arrival of a tow truck.

Vehicular movement along the corridor was described as slow for several hours due to the temporary closure and counterflow traffic control measures.

Authorities reiterated that fuel scooping from accident scenes poses grave dangers, including fire outbreaks and loss of lives.

The incident mirrors previous fuel scooping tragedies across the country.

In October 2024, more than 100 people were killed after a petrol tanker exploded along the Kano–Hadejia expressway in Jigawa State, with most of the victims attempting to retrieve fuel.

A similar incident occurred in October 2025 in the Essa community along the Agaie–Bida road in Niger State’s Katcha Local Government Area, where several residents died after a fallen tanker caught fire while people were scooping fuel.