Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has strongly criticised the actions of some residents who endangered their lives by attempting to scoop fuel from a tanker that overturned at Liverpool Bridge in Apapa on Monday, the 19th of January 2026, describing the conduct as reckless and unsafe.
The governor expressed deep concern over the apparent disregard for safety during the incident, noting that such behaviour could have easily led to fatalities if an explosion had occurred.
While condemning the actions of the residents, Sanwo-Olu commended the swift response of emergency officials and security operatives, especially the police, for promptly cordoning off the area and preventing a potentially disastrous situation.
He warned residents against engaging in similar acts in the future, emphasising that no material benefit is worth risking human lives and that safety must always come first.
Speaking more broadly on issues of public discipline, the governor lamented the continued practice of indiscriminate waste disposal across the state, particularly the habit of dumping refuse on road medians.
He revealed that stricter penalties would be implemented this year to curb the menace, adding that the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has been instructed to arrest violators as a way of discouraging others.
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On the demolition exercise currently taking place in Makoko, Sanwo-Olu explained that occupants of structures situated within 150 to 250 metres of high-tension power lines had received evacuation notices over two years before the commencement of the exercise.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, assuring that those affected by the demolition would be supported through palliatives and relocation assistance.
The governor reaffirmed that his government remains determined to take all necessary steps to ensure public safety and protect the wellbeing of residents across Lagos State.