Black Sunday in Lagos : 15 Feared Dead, At least 50 Houses Burnt in Pipeline Explosion as Buhari, Lawan, Gbajabiamila and Sanwo-Olu Reacts

The deafening bang caused by pipeline explosion in FESTAC and Abule Ado in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State on Sunday sent shockwaves and caused serious panic among residents.

The impact of the explosion resonated as far as FESTAC Town, Ago place, Surulere, Ikeja, Badagry and its environs.

The foundation of many houses in these areas vibrated, while windows, ceilings and roofs were shattered. The explosion resulted in loss of lives and destruction of many properties.

At the end, 15 people were confirmed dead while over 50 houses got burnt. Others were said to have sustained various degrees of injuries. The figure may still go up.

Acting Coordinator of Lagos Territorial Office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, who confirmed the incident, said over 50 buildings were destroyed in the explosion that rocked Abule Ado, near the Trade Fair Complex on the Lagos-Badagry highway.

He explained that fire from the explosion later spread to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) oil pipeline passing through the area.

NNPC has, however, blamed the ugly incident on a gas explosion which occurred after a truck hit some gas cylinders stacked in a gas processing plant located near the corporation’s system 2B Pipeline Right of Way.

The corporation, in a statement in Abuja by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Kennie Obateru, noted that following the report of the explosion, the corporation quickly halted ongoing pumping operations on Atlas Cove-Mosimi pipeline which was active at the time.

He added that the temporary shutdown of the critical System 2B pipeline would not affect the supply of Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol, across the country.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with families who lost loved ones, and all those affected by the explosion in Abule Ado.

The President, in a  statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, condoled with the Lagos State Government and all residents affected by the unfortunate incident, which left many injured and destroyed properties.

“I have received with sadness the news of this unfortunate incident which caused loss of lives and property.

“A misfortune of whatever scale anywhere is a tragedy to the country, and while the NNPC makes efforts to determine the cause of the incident, I send my deepest and profound sympathises to the victims, their families, government and people of Lagos State,” Buhari said.

Similarly, Senate President Ahmad Lawan has sympathised with the affected victims and prayed God to console all the bereaved.

“I received with sadness, the news of the explosion that occured this morning at Abule Ado in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State. I commiserate with the victims and condole with all those lost loved ones in the incident.

“I also commiserate with Lagos State Government over the tragic incident and sympathise with those who are injured and those who lost property to the inferno.

“My prayer is for God to comfort all those who are affected hoping that the relevant authorities and agencies will get to the root of the incident with a view to forestalling a recurrence,” Lawan said.

Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has expressed sadness over the pipeline explosion.

Gbajabiamila, who sympathised with the victims of the explosion, called for calm as the state government makes frantic efforts to ascertain the cause of the incident.

The speaker commended Lagos State Government as well as relevant agencies for taking action following the explosion.

Gbajabiamila, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, said everything should be done to avert the reoccurrence of such incident in future.

“My heart goes out to the people of Abule Ado, especially the victims of the explosion in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area. I also sympathise with the people and Lagos State Government over the incident

“May I call on all the agencies of government to do diligent work to ascertain the cause of the explosion to avert a reoccurrence,” Gbajabiamila said.

On his part, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has advised residents in the affected area to make safety their priority, urging them to maintain a safe distance from the scene of the explosion and fire as the site is still live.

The governor also instructed Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) to immediately release personal safety equipment such as face and nose protection masks to be distributed to first responders, residents of the affected area and all safety workers at the ground zero. The safety equipment had been delivered.

Safety agencies in the state were immediately mobilised after the pipeline  explosion to the scene of the incident to contain the fire and keep the residents safe.

The perimeter of the fire incident is under control.

Sanwo-Olu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, had sent the protective equipment to the affected site to prevent any form of medical hazard such as respiratory infections by the residents who may unknowingly inhale toxic substances from the explosion.

The governor noted that in a situation like this, there would be a lot of unhealthy substances, gas particuate matters that could affect people’s lungs.

Sanwo-Olu, however, reiterated the need for the residents to maintain a safe distance as practicable to avoid breathing in polluted air.

Meanwhile, combined safety teams of the Lagos State Emergency Authority (LASEMA); Lagos Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA); Lagos State Safety Commission; Lagos State Fire Service; Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS) as well as Nigerian Security and Civil Defence (NSCDC), the Nigerian Navy and the military are among the state and federal agencies currently at the scene of the incident to ensure the safety of residents.