The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) says it has successfully restored normalcy after responding to two separate emergencies—a truck accident at Kara Bridge and a fire outbreak in Alakuko—with no fatalities recorded in either incident.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Head of Public Affairs, LASEMA, Afolabi Olawale, the agency’s Tiger Squad was deployed to Kara Bridge at about 3:00 a.m. following reports of a truck accident.
The statement said responders found that a 40-foot bucket trailer loaded with bags of flour had overturned after crashing into the bridge’s side rail.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the accident was caused by overloading, which resulted in the driver losing control of the vehicle,” the statement said.
LASEMA disclosed that although no lives were lost, the driver sustained severe injuries and was evacuated to the nearest hospital by officers of the Nigeria Police Force for treatment.
The agency explained that emergency responders carried out transloading operations to move the flour into another trailer, while the overturned truck was recovered with the assistance of two private towing trucks procured by the Nigeria Police Force.
It added that the damaged truck was moved to a lay-by pending final evacuation with a heavy-duty crane due to extensive damage to its wheels.
“Following the conclusion of transloading, the scene was handed over to TRACE officials. Traffic management was jointly supervised by LASTMA and the Nigeria Police Force to ensure free flow of vehicular movement and minimize gridlock,” the statement added.
LASEMA said the operation involved its Response Team, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), TRACE and the Nigeria Police Force.
In a separate incident, the agency said it responded to a fire outbreak at No. 15, Olayemi Olaniran Street, AmJay Hotel, Alakuko, in Alimosho Local Government Area.
According to the statement, responders discovered that the fire affected the top flat of a storey building after an electrical surge from a prepaid meter triggered the blaze.
“The fire had been curtailed from spreading to other flats and was successfully extinguished with dampening-down operations concluded by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service prior to the arrival of the LASEMA LRT,” the agency stated.
It confirmed that no casualty or injury was recorded, adding that personnel from LASEMA and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service concluded the operation successfully.
LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, commended all responding agencies for their swift intervention, noting that their professionalism prevented both incidents from escalating.
He also urged haulage operators to comply strictly with approved load limits and road safety regulations, while advising residents to regularly inspect and maintain electrical installations, particularly prepaid meters, to reduce the risk of fire outbreaks caused by electrical surges.
Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu further encouraged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report emergencies through the Lagos State Emergency toll-free lines, 112 and 767.
He reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property while ensuring the uninterrupted flow of traffic across the state.
