Residents and commuters were seen scooping fuel from a fallen tanker on the Tincan Liverpool Bridge in Apapa, Lagos State, sparking widespread concern and chaos.

In a video currently trending on social media, large crowds were captured rushing to collect the spilled fuel despite the obvious danger, as traffic ground to a halt along the busy route.

Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), alongside operatives of the Nigerian Police Force and the Lagos State Fire Service, swiftly moved in to control the situation. Vehicles were diverted to prevent a major disaster while emergency responders worked to contain the fuel spill.

According to a statement issued by LASTMA, the tanker, laden with diesel, toppled on the Liverpool Bridge inward to Mile 2, damaging the tank and causing diesel to spread across the roadway.

LASTMA confirmed that officers from the Nigerian Police Force, Area B Command, and other safety agencies were immediately alerted.

The statement read in part:

“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. LASTMA officials are on ground managing traffic while awaiting the arrival of a tow truck.”

It added that fire service personnel and rescue teams remained on site, noting that vehicular movement was initially slow as a counterflow traffic control method was adopted for safety reasons.

Authorities warned residents to stay away from accident scenes involving fuel tankers, stressing that such situations pose serious fire and health risks.