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Chemical-Laden Barge Sinks At Mile 2, Lagos

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…No Rescue Teams in Sight

BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA

A barge suspected to be carrying industrial chemicals sank early Friday morning in the bustling Mile 2 waters, raising concerns over safety oversight and environmental risks.

The vessel, which was maneuvering to berth at a bonded terminal operated by Clarion Shipping, reportedly capsized after a possible cargo shift during docking procedures.

Sources described a chaotic scene as the barge listed heavily before disappearing beneath the surface. Salvage operations were swiftly initiated by private contractors, with heavy cranes dispatched to recover the sunken vessel. By evening, parts of the barge remained submerged, and recovery teams continued working to retrieve any salvageable cargo.

What has drawn alarm, however, is the conspicuous absence of state and federal emergency response agencies. Despite the chemical nature of the cargo and the proximity of the incident to key transport routes dotted with maritime traffic from jetties, ferries, and small crafts converge—no federal or state agencies was seen to carry out out any rescue, coordinate public safety measures or assess environmental hazards.

The incident occurred in one of Lagos’s busiest aquatic corridors, near four key jetties along the ferry route to CMS Island. The area, a vital artery linking Festac, Mile 2, Apapa, and CMS, is typically thick with marine activity, heightening concerns over navigational risks and potential contamination.

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As recovery efforts continue, residents and maritime operators are left questioning the readiness and responsiveness of emergency agencies—especially when hazardous materials are involved.

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