Scores of people have been injured following an explosion in Abule Ado, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, on Sunday. READ ALSO: FG Shuts Chinese Restaurant For Discriminating Against Nigerians
The explosion threw residents of the area into a state of panic, as it was gathered that its impact destroyed some buildings.
A resident, Aliu Jimoh, said two fire service trucks had arrived the scene of the explosion but the fire was yet to be put out, adding that scores of people had been injured.
He said: “There is a problem in Abule Ado right now, a pipeline has exploded and many buildings have collapsed, including a school. We don’t know if people are in the building or not.”
Speaking on the development, the Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, Nosa Okunbor, said: “A team is heading to Abule Ado, trade fair axis for investigation of the alleged pipeline explosion. We are awaiting details and preliminary reports. Please avoid speculations.”
In the meantime, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has said that the explosion was not caused by a disruption of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, oil pipeline, as it was widely speculated.
The Acting Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office, NEMA, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, making the clarification in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos said that contrary to information earlier put out on the social media, the explosion was unconnected to pipeline vandalism.
“From the information given by officials of the Lagos State Fire Service who are currently on the ground, the implosion is not connected to pipeline but might have occurred in a factory located in the Abule Ado area.
He further stated: “Emergency responders are on the ground while others are still on their way to the scene. The situation is under control and we hope to get more information soon to ascertain its cause.”
Farinloye said the NNPC had shut down the pipeline passing through the area as a precautionary measure after the oil company was notified of the incident.
He also revealed that several buildings were affected by the explosion which was heard several kilometres Explosion away in many parts of the state including Amuwo Odofin, Ijegun and Agege.
