LAGOS – Mr Gani Adams, a factional leader of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), on Thursday attributed the pipeline explosion at Ije-Ododo in Ojo area of Lagos State to thunder.
Adams told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on phone that the explosion was not caused by his men nor vandals, but thunder.
NAN reports that the pipeline explosion occurred on Monday night.
According to the OPC leader, nobody can get to the scene of the explosion when it occurred late on Monday night because of the swampy nature of the area.
Adams said that leakages along the pipeline had been on for quite some times, but were not attended to until thunder struck.
He said that he personally reported the leakages in the area to officials of the NNPC.
“My men were at the NNPC office on the very day of the incident, June 8, to complain about the leakages.
“NNPC promised to rectify the leakages after it completes the repairs of leakages in Arepo in Ogun.
“We did not know that there will be an explosion on that day.
“This is not the first time leakages will cause explosion.
“Nobody can easily get to that point of explosion because of the swampy nature of the area.
“Even since the incident, we have not been able to get to the point of the explosion,” he said.
Adams said that NNPC had confidence in his men and that NNPC had not asked him to vacate the pipelines.
“Every member of OPC was put on oath before taking up the job; we cannot compromise on the trust the government have in us,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Baale of Ije-Ododo, Alhaji Tajudeen Subair-Ododo, has appealed to NNPC to sand fill the swampy area for easy access.
Subair-Ododo said that the swampy nature of the place had made it difficult for security personnel to guard it properly.
Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, the spokesman for National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said NEMA officials were yet to gain access to the explosion point as at Thursday.
“Due to the swampy nature of the area, we are still making efforts to get to the point of the explosion; the fire is still on.
“But there is hope that we will get to the point today (Thursday) and put out the fire.
“Action will commence to put out the fire after securing access to the difficult terrain due to the swampy nature of the area,” he said.
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NAN reports that fire was still raging at the site, causing panic among residents. (NAN)
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