Witnesses have recounted how fear and confusion gripped the Tincan–Liverpool Bridge area of Apapa, Lagos, after a diesel-laden tanker overturned on the bridge, forcing residents and early-morning traders to scamper for safety.
The NIPCO tanker, fully loaded with diesel, fell on the bridge inward Mile 2 in the early hours on Monday, spilling its contents towards the busy Liverpool underbridge and Lever Market axis.
Residents said the incident occurred between 5:30 am and 6:00 am, a period when traders were beginning to arrive, and others were still sleeping under the bridge.
Aminu, who sleeps under the Liverpool Bridge near Lever Market, said he narrowly escaped death after diesel dripped from the bridge.
“I saw the diesel like water falling close to where I sleep,” he told The Nation. “My mind went straight to what happened in Jigawa last year, when some of my brothers went to scoop fuel and fire killed many of them. I told myself I was not ready to die, so I ran.”
According to him, he fled towards Tincan without looking back. “I didn’t even know where I was running to. I just ran as fast as I could,” he said, showing bruises he sustained while escaping.
Aminu said the absence of food vendors at the time helped avert disaster. “There are people who sell akara, plantain, and other food under this bridge. They had not opened at the time. If the cooking fire had been on, many lives would have been lost,” he added.
Another witness, Chinwendu, a roadside trader under the bridge, said the sound of the accident was alarming.
“There was a very loud noise, like an explosion,” she said. “The tanker’s tyre burst. I saw it swaying and the driver struggling to control it before it finally fell.”
She said liquid immediately started pouring from the tanker, prompting her to abandon her goods and run. “At that moment, nobody knew whether it was petrol or diesel. Later, when people heard it was diesel, some returned,” she said.
According to her, that was when people began gathering with buckets and kegs to scoop the fuel until security operatives arrived and dispersed them.
A Baba Ijebu operator near the bridge said, “The tanker’s tyre burst, and the driver tried to regain control, but couldn’t until it fell. I watched it from my stand,” he said.
Security operatives, including police and military personnel, were quickly deployed to the scene to prevent a repeat of past tanker-related tragedies.
A police officer from Area B Command, Apapa, said efforts were focused on preventing loss of lives.
“A fully loaded tanker with diesel fell on the bridge, and the fuel was spilling downward. Under the bridge is Lever Market. We ensured everybody was evacuated and informed of the danger,” he said.
He added that the fire service was contacted immediately. “Fire service officials were on the ground to ensure there was no ignition. We also stopped individuals scooping the diesel and chased them away to avoid any eventuality,” he said.
During a visit to the scene, The Nation observed emergency responders from the Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) coordinating traffic control and evacuation.
Although the area was cordoned off, some youths were seen dragging a filled 50-cl container of diesel away from the bridge. A brief argument reportedly broke out among them over how to share the product.
At about 2:00 pm, the fallen tanker had been successfully removed and towed away, restoring traffic flow on the bridge.
