23 July 2013, Lagos – The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, pipeline has burst at Isheri-Olofin area of Idimu-Egbe, Local Council Development Area, LCDA, of Lagos, spilling its contents all over.
The pipeline carrying Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, ruptured around residential areas, covering five estates: Diamond, Iroko, Good Homes, Unity and Home Foundation Estates.
The rupture, according to an eyewitness, occurred at about 1p.m., Monday, close to Iyana Odo Bus stop, on LASU-Isheri Road when traders in the area suddenly noticed liquid substance gushing out of the ground and spreading to the entire area.
The traders were said to have responded swiftly to save the situation from degenerating into an inferno as they quickly cordoned off the area before the arrival of security and other agencies few minutes later.
The combined agencies included Nigeria Police from Area’ M’ Command; men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC; Federal Fire Fighters from Ikotun, and officials of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
When Vanguard visited the scene, one of the fire fighters who spoke on condition of anonymity, assured that everything had been brought under control due to the prompt response by the agencies and cooperation from residents.
As at 6. 30p.m., hired labourer were seen fixing the burst pipeline and scooping out the spilled PMS into a pit.
The situation resulted into a traffic gridlock as agencies kept motorists and other conveyer of naked light at bay.
Meantime, Lagos State Government, has urged the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to respect the laid down emergency response structure in the country in the interest of the general public.
General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, who spoke yesterday, at Ikeja, described emergency structure as a chain that moves from the primary, secondary to the tertiary level.
– Olasunkanmi Akoni and Monsur Olowoopeju, Vanguard.