Residents scoop fuel as fuel tanker overturns on Lagos bridge
By SUMAYYAH ADEFAKA
A fully loaded petrol tanker has overturned on the Tincan-Liverpool bridge, Apapa, Lagos, leading to a spillage of fuel.
Eyewitnesses say the tanker tipped over in the early hours of Monday during rush hour, with road traffic management personnel yet to arrive at the scene at the time of reporting.
A circulating video revealed that passersby were busy scooping the fuel draining from the damaged tank as many carted PMS in containers and Jerrycans.
While others stood directly underneath the bridge to scoop as it dropped from the tanker, others scampered to scoop from PMS filled drainage.
Tanker explosions are a recurring tragedy in Nigeria, despite repeated warnings about the dangers of collecting spilt fuel.
It would be recalled that in October 2024, over 100 people were confirmed dead after a petrol-laden tanker exploded at the Kano-Hadejia expressway in Jigawa state.
Most of the victims were trying to scoop petrol from the tanker after it tipped over. In October 2025, a petrol tanker exploded in the Essa community, along the Agaie-Bida road in the Katcha LGA of Niger state, claiming the lives of many residents.
Locals had arrived on the scene to fetch petrol after the tanker tumble.
The Lagos State Government has issued a warning to residents following reports of fuel scooping from a fallen tanker at the Tincan–Liverpool Bridge area of Apapa.
In an urgent situation report on Monday, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed that the tanker was leaking fuel and that emergency responders had been deployed to the scene.
“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 statement read.
