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According to an official of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), who was at the scene, “LASEMA received an early call and rushed to the scene at about 6.45a.m. to manage the situation with the help of Fire Service men around the area.”
The Guardian met some people scooping the product that spilled into a narrow drainage system. The driver of the tanker, who identified himself as Mustapha said: “The tanker dislodged from the main body while I was ascending the bridge connecting Toyota Bus Stop with Airport Road on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.
“It was not my fault. I thank God because nobody died or got injured. I was on my way to Kano when this happened at about 2.30a.m. and nobody came for my rescue until around 5a.m. I thank God we did not destroy any property. It’s only our product that was wasted.”
Mustapha lamented what he went through in the hands of street urchins, popularly called Area Boys, saying: “When the accident occurred, I was at the mercy of the street urchins. We were chasing each other throughout the night. They used kegs to scoop my diesel.
“When Fire Service men came to the scene, they chased everybody away and allowed Agbero to run away with the product,” he said.
The incident caused severe traffic snarl on the express and it was not until 10:45am when LASTMA succeeded in removing the tanker that the situation eased.
-Guardian