Fire disaster averted in Lagos as LASEMA, others rescued situation

By Ezurike Ugochukwu and Ambrose Nnaji

Residents of Ikotun area of the Lagos State may have been counting their loses both lives and property save the quick intervention of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency(LASEMA), as well as it’s Fire Service Response Unit (LRU)

LASEMA and other sister agencies including men of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation(NNPC), Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) and the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps(LNSC) were on ground to bring under control pipeline explosion that would have consumed inestimable lives and property in the area.

The Director-General, LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, while confirming the development advised residents to be cautious of any form of open flame and burning in order to avoid any form of explosion in the area as efforts were in top gear to bring the situation under control.

As early as 7:05am on Friday when Nation Update visited the area, there was no trace of any government agency in the area.

Even as there was culpable fear in many homes, among persons and passersby in the area, some miscrients were spotted been busy scooping petrol(PMS) that was gushing out in large volume from the vandalized NNPC pipeline that passed through the area.

The situation may have endangered the multi- billion naira Ikotun market, several banks in the area, Igando/Ikotun LCDA, manufacturing companies in the area, Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) and many others human and material acquisitions.

Commercial activities were suspended due to the stench and flow of petroleum products as potholes and linking canals in the area were all riddled with the substance.

The timber markets littered in the area were closed, the popular BRT terminal and many other markets in the area were also shutdown over the spillage. Diversion of vehicular movements were made as all the adjoining roads as: Prince Adeyemi-Pipeline road, Fehintola road to Omoboriowo, Abaranje/Ijegun road and several others were barricaded to
discourage commuters from accessing the area.

Few pedestrians were seen passing through the area, though in fear and haste. Most gutters.

Oke-Osanyintolu however in his release stated, “Upon arrival at the incident scene, Omoboriowo Street, Pipeline Bus Stop Igando-Ikotun Road, Igando, it was observed a very large volume of PMS was gushing out of the NNPC pipeline.

“Further investigation revealed that the heavy flow of PMS was caused by suspected pipeline vandalism and bunkering in the early hours of Aug. 27.

“Presently, there is no loss of life and property, serious sensitization, public education and awareness are ongoing in the entire community.

“This is to avoid any form of open flame and burning in order to avoid any form of explosion or any other secondary incident.”

He added that the entire area had become highly vulnerable due to the heavy flow of the highly flammable PMS.

“Responders at the incident scene are LASEMA, LRU Fire, Lagos State Fire Service, NSCDC, NNPC, LASTMA and LNSC.

“Three fire trucks are currently on the ground, while the NNPC maintenance team is working to stop the flow in order to commence repairs. Operations are still ongoing,” he said.

In an update to the situation, Nosa Okunbor
Head, Public Affairs LASEMA stated: “on the Pipeline Vandalism at Omoboriowo Street, Pipeline Bus Stop Igando-Ikotun Road, Igando states, the PMS flow from the pipeline has been successfully stopped.

“The leakage has been successfully controlled by Officials of NNPC Maintenance crew, while blanketing of the affected area is presently ongoing with the threat of impending fire disaster brought to “the lowest low”.

“As a follow-up to it’s immediate actions when the operation started earlier today, LASEMA Response Unit, LRU, has commenced further blanketing at the other end of the community around Ikotun Market, BRT terminal and Synagogue Church, where vulnerability was considered as ‘still high’.

This sordid life threat and economic sabotage has become reoccurring decimal. Occurring periodically, the most recent was on 13 July 2021.

The other monumental stealing of our commonwealth by the same cartel was last year when our correspondents was reliably informed of how about seven 40 feet tankers were loaded from the area in one operation.

It will be recalled that this online media, Nation update.com.ng had given a graphic analysis, dangers and criminality/ criminal elements involved in this unending evil in the area in its publication of 22 April, 2020 titled: “Pipeline explosion looms in Lagos State”
…NSCDC, others accused of connivance.

Residents of the area have expressed deep concern over the situation as they insisted that nothing yet has been done to convince tgem that the end of the menace was in sight.

An artisan who had lived in the Ikotun axis for over 20 years said that it had been a recurring issue in the area

According to the artisan who did not want his name in print for security reasons said that sooner or later the miscreants would strike again insisting that government at all levels had done little or nothing to stop vandalism of pipeline in the area adding that the authority has not been sensitive to the plights of the people living in the area