The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has warned residents, traders and food vendors against consuming or selling groundnut oil spilled from an overturned 33,000-litre tanker at Ojota Bridge, inward Old Toll Gate, Lagos, over fears of possible contamination.
The tanker reportedly overturned around Abiola Garden, completely obstructing the carriageway and disrupting vehicular movement along the affected route.
Traffic gridlock disrupted movement on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday after a tanker conveying 33,000 litres of groundnut oil overturned near Abiola Garden, inward Toll Gate, Lagos.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 2pm near Ojota Bridge, spilling the contents of the tanker onto the road.
Following the accident, some residents were seen scooping the spilled groundnut oil from the scene.
Emergency responders, including officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Nigeria Police, arrived at the scene to manage traffic and coordinate recovery operations.
The affected section of the road was cordoned off to ensure public safety, while recovery efforts continued.
Preliminary security reports attributed the accident to suspected brake failure, prompting the deployment of emergency responders to evacuate the tanker, manage traffic and restore normal movement.
LASTMA said its rescue and recovery team, supported by two high-capacity tow vehicles, was deployed to remove the overturned tanker and ease the resulting congestion.
Traffic management personnel were also positioned around the scene to coordinate vehicle movement and implement diversions to reduce the impact of the incident on motorists.
The agency’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed concern over reports that some individuals were scooping spilled groundnut oil from the road, drainage channels and other exposed areas for possible consumption or resale.
He warned that the oil could have been contaminated through contact with road debris, environmental pollutants, drainage effluents and other hazardous substances, posing potential health risks to unsuspecting consumers.
Bakare-Oki urged residents, traders and food vendors to avoid collecting, consuming or distributing the recovered oil, stressing that attempts to salvage spilled commodities should not take precedence over public health and safety.
He cautioned that consuming contaminated edible oil could expose individuals to avoidable health complications, urging members of the public to exercise restraint and heed the advisory.
Other agencies involved in the response included the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency.
Their intervention complemented LASTMA’s traffic management operations and efforts to address the immediate consequences of the accident.
The agency reiterated the importance of public cooperation with emergency responders in preventing further risks following road accidents involving spilled commodities.
