BREAKING: Tanker Overturns at Tincan Liverpool Bridge, Apapa

Happening now at Tincan Liverpool Bridge, Apapa in Lagos State: a large fuel tanker has overturned, spilling its highly flammable contents and sparking a dangerous rush by residents and passersby to scoop up leaking fuel from the scene. 

Also Read: Fuel Tanker Explosions in Nigeria: Why Crashes Turn Deadly

The incident occurred on Monday morning along the Liverpool Bridge inward Mile 2 corridor, a major route that connects Apapa’s industrial and port areas with the rest of Lagos.

Eyewitnesses reported that traffic was already building when the fully loaded diesel tanker tipped over, causing fuel to pour across the carriageway beneath the bridge.

Watch video below:

Videos circulating widely on social media showed dozens of people converging on the overturned vehicle, using jerrycans, buckets, and makeshift containers to collect the spilled diesel directly from the accident site, a practice emergency officials have repeatedly warned is extremely dangerous due to the risk of fire, explosion, and severe injury.

The behaviour mirrors past deadly episodes in Nigeria where crowds gathered around overturned tankers, resulting in catastrophic explosions and high casualty counts.

Authorities were alerted swiftly. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed that emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Department of State Services (DSS), and Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), were on the ground to secure the scene, divert traffic, and avert secondary incidents.

LASTMA stated that the road had been cordoned off and partly reopened after fire service personnel neutralised the spilled diesel and diverted vehicles to the safe side of the bridge. Traffic is moving slowly under counterflow control as operations continue.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) issued a stern warning to the public to avoid scooping spilled fuel, refrain from using naked flames near the site, and comply with safety directives from officials working to manage the situation.

LASEMA emphasised that approaching the tanker or attempting to collect fuel poses a serious risk of ignition, explosion, and loss of life, especially in densely populated traffic environments like Apapa.

Motorists were also advised to use alternative routes until the scene is fully cleared and declared safe by authorities.

Fuel spills from overturned tankers present dual hazards: the immediate risk of fire and explosion, and the potential for secondary crashes caused by sudden obstacles and reduced traction on road surfaces.

Safety experts stress that even a single spark from a discarded cigarette, a vehicle exhaust, or static electricity can trigger a devastating inferno.

The rapid response by fire, traffic, and security personnel likely prevented a more serious disaster, but the incident highlights ongoing challenges related to road safety, accident response, and public behaviour around hazardous events.