15 December 2014, Akure – The Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, has said that the owner of the gas facility that exploded in Akure, the state capital, has no approval to operate in the area.
However, Mimiko has promised to compensate victims of Saturday’s gas explosion which occurred on Arakale Road, Akure, the state capital.
Mimiko, who visited the Truama Centre in Ondo where some of the victims were receiving treatment, said the government would be responsible for their medical bills.
The explosion, which reportedly happened following a leakage at the gas retail outlet, destroyed about 11 houses and property worth millions of naira.
Eight people also sustained varying degrees of burn injuries.
It was, however, learnt that no life was lost to the incident.
Mimiko, who described the occurrence as unfortunate, said the government did not approve the area for gas business.
However, the governor, while sympathising with the victims at the hospital on Sunday, said a committee would be set up to take inventory of the property lost to the inferno.
He said, “Gas filling outfit right in the middle of residential areas is unacceptable. In terms of development and control practice, this is unacceptable. The unfortunate aspect of all of these is the culture of impunity. This man applied to set up the facility there in May this year and by June, the ministry wrote a letter rejecting the approval yet he went ahead to expose the lives of the people to danger here. This makes one to be sad.
“As I’m speaking with you, none of those affected is dead. Eight people were involved in the incident. They suffered varying degrees of burn injuries. As of now, all of them are still living. We pray that they will all make it.”
The governor assured that all illegal filling stations located in residential areas and other hazardous locations in the state would be pulled down, calling on the people to be vigilant and report illegal retail outlet of gas to appropriate authorities to ensure safety of lives and property.
– The Punch
