Olalekan Bakare-Oki, general manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LAST A), says the driver of the diesel tanker that overturned on Apapa bridge inward Mile 2 will be sanctioned after investigations are concluded.
A diesel-laden tanker toppled on the bridge on Monday, spilling fuel across the road, disrupting traffic and drawing residents who were seen in viral videos scooping diesel despite the risk of fire or explosion.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, Bakare-Oki said responsibility for investigating the crash rests with the Nigeria Police Force and assured that accountability would follow.
“It is the responsibility of the Nigerian police to investigate all accidents. I am very sure the investigations are ongoing now. I cannot preempt the decision of the investigation, but I can assure you the driver will not go unpunished,” he said.
“Immediately the tanker was removed, the whole area was cleared. Even the Lagos State Fire Service had to spend extra hours ensuring that they cleared all the spilled fuel in order to avert a fire incident.”
He said LASTMA was awaiting the police report before drawing conclusions on what caused the accident.
“We’ll await the decision of the police investigation,” he said, noting that his agency had no preliminary findings on the incident.
However, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service later attributed the crash to brake failure.
In a statement issued on Monday, Margaret Adeseye, comptroller-general of the agency, said the tanker lost control before skidding off the bridge.
She added that the prompt response of emergency services helped avert a major disaster on the busy Apapa corridor, a critical route to Nigeria’s largest seaport.