SUNTV Global Channel | Lagos
Updated: January 19, 2026
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged residents to always prioritise the safety of lives and property following a dangerous incident involving a fallen diesel tanker on the Liverpool Bridge in the Apapa area of the state.
The governor’s reaction followed a viral video that showed several residents scooping diesel from a fallen 33,000-litre tanker as its contents spilled across the busy bridge, triggering panic and raising fears of a possible fire outbreak.
Speaking on the incident, Sanwo-Olu stressed that Lagos, as a mega city, must treat safety as a top priority, especially during emergencies.
“We had to quickly deploy our first responders to cordon off the area. If anything had gone wrong, the outcome would have been disastrous. People need to understand that in a city like Lagos, the safety of lives and property must always come first,” the governor said.
The incident occurred on Monday when the tanker fell and began discharging its highly inflammable contents. Despite the obvious danger, residents were seen gathering jerrycans and buckets to collect the spilled diesel.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) confirmed that traffic was diverted away from the affected section of the bridge to prevent casualties and allow emergency operations.
LASTMA disclosed that officials from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Nigeria Police Force, and traffic officers were immediately deployed to the scene to avert a tragedy.
“Their presence is to prevent fire outbreaks, evacuate the truck, and ensure the free flow of traffic,” the agency stated.
Videos released by LASTMA further showed crowds clustering around the fallen tanker, scrambling to collect as much diesel as possible, despite repeated warnings.
Fortunately, no fire outbreak was recorded. Emergency responders later neutralised the spilled fuel, allowing the previously cordoned section of the bridge to be reopened.
“The road on Liverpool Bridge inward Apapa has now been reopened after the contents were neutralised by officers of the Lagos State Fire Service,” LASTMA said.
The agency added that traffic movement remained slow while officials awaited the arrival of a tow truck to fully remove the tanker. Counter-flow traffic control was temporarily adopted to ease congestion.
Authorities have once again appealed to residents to avoid endangering their lives during such incidents, warning that scooping petroleum products poses serious risks not only to individuals but to the entire city.
— SUNTV Global Channel Reporting
