The PSP truck that fell into the Lagos lagoon in the Oworo region of the state was rescued on Sunday by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) with assistance from other emergency responders after around three hours of the rescue effort.
With the use of a powerful crane, LASEMA was able to recover the garbage truck.
Speaking during the recovery effort, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the permanent secretary of LASEMA, revealed that the two people who were in the truck on Tuesday when it went into the lagoon were saved alive, treated, admitted, and released the day after the incident.
He claimed that the state government was forced to postpone the truck's rescue because it wanted the operation to have little to no adverse effects on Third Mainland Bridge traffic.
He implored drivers to always be alert to avoid incidents like this.
He, therefore, enjoined residents to support and alert emergency responders through the emergency numbers and not be clogged in the wheel of operation of responders.
He said residents should not see accident and rescue operation scenes as just an opportunity to take pictures but to support responders in doing their job.
He added that when residents could not support responders at accident scenes, loitering around accident or rescue operation scenes to take pictures is usually not the best as it will obstruct the flow of operation and slow down effective and efficient rescue operations.
He thanked motorists for supporting the recovery operation by using the alternative routes provided while the operation started.
Also speaking, the General Manager of Lagos State Waterways Authority, Damilola Emmanuel, said that rescue and recovery operation is usually a collaborative effort, reason LASWA was actively involved in the operation with the provision of boats and some rescue officers.
On hand to support the recovery operation which started around 2:00 pm and ended at 4:20 pm were officers of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Lagos Waterways Authority, Federal Road Safety Commission, and the police.