Fears heighten as crowds rush to scoop fuel as petrol tanker overturns in Apapa

Residents and passersby in the Apapa area of Lagos were seen in trending video scooping petrol from an overturned fuel tanker, reigniting concerns over public safety and the handling of fuel-related accidents in the metropolis.

Channels Television posted the video of the incident on Monday morning, showing Nigerians scooping contents of the tanker from underneath the bridge.

“Happening now at Tincan Liverpool Bridge, Apapa: A tanker overturned, with people scooping its contents from underneath the bridge,” Channels TV repored.

The tanker, which reportedly lost control and fell along a busy stretch of the Apapa axis, spilled a large quantity of fuel onto the road.

Within minutes, a crowd gathered at the scene, with many people bringing containers to scoop the leaking petrol, despite the high risk of fire or explosion.

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Eyewitnesses said the situation quickly became chaotic as individuals jostled for access to the spilled fuel, while traffic was disrupted along the route. The strong smell of petrol filled the air, heightening fears that a single spark could have triggered a deadly inferno.

The incident once again highlights a recurring and dangerous trend in Lagos, where fuel tanker accidents often attract large crowds seeking to collect spilled fuel, ignoring repeated warnings from safety agencies and emergency responders.

Authorities have consistently cautioned that fuel spillage poses severe risks, including explosions, loss of lives and destruction of property. Past incidents across the state have resulted in fatal fires after similar acts of fuel scooping.

As of the time of filing this report, details on casualties or official intervention at the scene remained unclear.

The development has renewed calls for stronger public enlightenment, quicker emergency response, and stricter enforcement of safety regulations to prevent avoidable tragedies linked to fuel tanker accidents in Lagos.