The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) said on Monday that the transloading of the remaining diesel from the tanker accident at Liverpool Bridge, Apapa, has been completed. Following the successful completion of the decanning exercise, the tanker was evacuated and the road reopened to traffic.

In a statement, the Controller-General, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Abimbola Adeseye, said: “The agency received a distress call at 08:05 am on Monday regarding a salvage operation involving a Mack trailer tanker, registration number RBC 98 XK, fully laden with 45,000 litres of diesel.

“The incident occurred at the Apapa Oshodi Expressway, Liverpool Bridge, Tin Can Island, Apapa, Lagos, where the tanker reportedly lost control while in motion, skidded off the bridgeway hung in the balance of the rail, while spilled part of its contents onto the bridge and underneath and into the adjoining drainage channel.

“Firefighting crews from the Ajegunle and Sari Iganmu Fire Stations were promptly deployed to the scene. On arrival, the responders successfully secured the tanker, effectively preventing any secondary incident. The situation was brought under control, with all imminent danger completely averted.

“As part of the emergency response, transloading of the remaining diesel was safely carried out, and the scene was secured against further interference by scoopers. Following the successful completion of the decanning exercise, the tanker was evacuated, and the road has since been reopened to traffic.”

She stated that preliminary assessment indicated that the suspected cause of the incident was brake failure.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, expressed disappointment over the scooping of fuel dripping from a fallen tanker at Liverpool Bridge, Apapa, by some residents of the state, describing the act as reckless.

He lamented that they did not prioritise safety, as they endangered their lives during the act.

Sanwo-Olu, who commended the swift actions of first responders, including the police, for securing the area before any eventualities, warned residents to desist from such acts.

The governor, who spoke frankly on indiscipline, especially indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the road median, said stiffer penalties would be served this year.

He hinted that the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) had been directed to arrest scapegoats as a deterrent to others.

Speaking on the demolition exercise in the Makoko area of the state, Sanwo-Olu insisted that evacuation notices had been served for over two years to those within 150 meters to 250 meters of the high-tension wires.