Residents were seen scooping diesel from a tanker that overturned on Liverpool Bridge, outward Apapa, near the Tin Can Island area of Lagos State, in the early hours of Monday, before emergency responders moved in to contain the situation.

Videos circulating on social media showed locals rushing to the scene with jerrycans and various containers, collecting the spilled diesel despite the obvious danger.

The incident involved a diesel tanker that crashed and spilled its contents on the Liverpool Bridge, raising concerns over a potential fire outbreak due to the highly flammable nature of the product.

Emergency responders, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and the Nigeria Police, were deployed after the videos surfaced, showing residents scooping the fuel and heightening fears of a possible inferno.

Confirming the development, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, and the Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, said the situation had been brought under control through coordinated emergency efforts.

Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu assured the public that safety had been restored, while urging motorists to avoid the affected axis and warning residents against lighting naked flames that could trigger an explosion.

“Our attention was drawn to a fallen tanker at the location, which was leaking diesel. All emergency responders were immediately activated and deployed to the scene,” he said.

He cautioned members of the public against scooping the spilled product or igniting any flame near the area, advising motorists to take alternative routes as the state’s disaster management protocol had been activated.

Also speaking, Mrs. Adeseye disclosed that the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service had stationed water tankers at strategic points around the scene to prevent any secondary incident.

“The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service is currently salvaging a 45,000-litre diesel tanker that overturned on Liverpool Bridge, outward Apapa, Tin Can Island, Lagos,” she said.

According to her, the tanker was secured without escalation, while security personnel were deployed to keep the crowd away and prevent further danger.

Emergency authorities said monitoring of the situation would continue until the area is fully secured.