Fear persists in Lagos community over burst NNPC pipeline

Residents of Igando-Ikotun area are still living in fear over burst fuel pipeline reported in their community early Friday morning.

This is despite the assurances given by the Director-General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, that the situation had been brought under control.

Oke-Osanyintolu stated this while giving an update on the leakage caused by vandals.

Suspected pipeline vandals were said to have targeted the NNPC pipeline at Omoboriowo Street, Pipeline bus stop, Igando-Ikotun road.

The vandalism occurred in the early hours of Friday as residents woke up to see fuel gushing out of the NNPC pipeline, causing panic among residents.

The fuel has been flowing into drainage channels and to prevent any fire outbreak, residents were advised not to cook or put on any form of fire for the next few hours.

They were also told to avoid smoking in order not to reignite a fire as fuel had leaked onto the streets.

A number of personnel of safety and rescue agencies of government drafted to the scene were from LASEMA, LRU, Lagos State Fire Service, NSCDC, NNPC and LASTMA.

Fire trucks are also stationed in strategic areas in case of fire.

The NNPC maintenance team was said to be working to stop the flow of fuel and handle the repairs.

Oke-Osanyintolu said the “PMS flow from the pipeline has been successfully stopped, while repairs of the vandalised pipeline have commenced.”

Confirming the incident in an earlier statement, he said they observed that “a very large volume of the 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 August 27.”

He also said, “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 to avoid any form of explosion or any other secondary incident.”

The agency appealed to traders at the Ikotun market “not open the market for operations today, restrict movements around Ikotun, Igando and other sensitive areas where the spilt content of vandalised pipeline.”

Oke-Osanyintolu said the content had spread far to other areas through drainages.