By Olasunkanmi Akoni

LAGOS ? A potential disaster was averted in the early hours of Monday after emergency responders swiftly moved in to contain a diesel spill from an overturned oil tanker on the Liverpool Bridge, outward Apapa, Tin Can Island area of Lagos.

The incident followed the circulation of videos on social media showing a tanker that had overturned on the bridge, spilling its contents while some individuals were seen scooping the highly flammable substance, raising fears of a possible inferno.

Confirming the development, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, and the Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, said the situation had been brought under control through the collaborative efforts of emergency responders, the Nigerian Police and other security agencies.

Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu assured members of the public that safety had been restored, while urging motorists to avoid the affected axis and residents in the area to refrain from lighting naked fire that could trigger an explosion.

?Our attention was drawn to a fallen tanker at the above location which was leaking fuel. All emergency responders were immediately activated and deployed to the scene,? he said.

He cautioned members of the public to exercise extreme caution, warning against scooping the spilled product or igniting any flame near the area, and advised motorists to take alternative routes as the state?s disaster management plan had been activated.

Also speaking, the Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Adeseye, disclosed that the agency had stationed water tankers at strategic points around the scene to prevent any secondary incident.

?The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service is currently salvaging a 45,000-litre diesel tanker that upturned at Liverpool Bridge, outward Apapa, Tin Can Island, Lagos,? she said.

According to her, the tanker was secured without escalation, while security personnel worked to keep the crowd at bay and prevent further danger.

Emergency authorities said monitoring of the situation would continue until the area is fully secured.

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