The disaster of December 26, 2006 explosion that killed over seven-hundred humans appears to be fading into distant memories amongst residents of Abule Egba area of Lagos state.
However for the few who still experience traumatised by using the gory scenes of the tragedy, they have got raised the alarm over indiscriminate spillage of gas from the Nigerian national Petroleum organisation (NNPC) pipelines that run thru the community.
The NNPC machine 2B pipe that runs from Atlas Cove to Ejigbo depot and onward to Mosinmi depot in Ogun kingdom is laid via the region claiming a proper of manner (RoW) on Segun Akinola street via Baale Bakare manner in Awori bus forestall, Abule Egba.
Community leaders are pointing accusing hands at the landlord of a one-storey building on Lagos-Abeokuta limited-access highway and his sister, who have found solace in making illicit brisk commercial enterprise from the large deposit of top class Motor Spirit (PMS) in his nicely.
While among the citizens have their wells contaminated by means of oil spillage, there seems to be an unusual deposit of petrol in the recognized building or an outright vandalisation of the pipelines to scoop gas.
Throughout the day, there may be nothing that suggest any untoward sports inside the area until at night while underneath the duvet of darkness, petrol is scooped into jerry cans of diverse sizes and loaded into motors to unknown vacation spot.
Gas is likewise bought lesser than the respectable charge of N145 in keeping with litre to residents of the region primarily based at the buyer’s bargaining energy.
The father or mother accrued that the ‘oil’ well, which was to start with operated manually has been well ready with a greater advanced technology to scoop gas and it’s miles always under lock and key to deny different tenants of the building of the ‘magic gas’.
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It was discovered that the majority the houses in that axis, together with Oribamiwaola Mosque, GTBank, Wema financial institution, and a Celestial Church of Christ parish have their water exceedingly infected with gasoline. In truth, workers on the banks, the Muslim devoted and their Christian opposite numbers are actually wary of the use of the water from the wells, as they now motel to depending on sachet water for survival.
A resident, Ajayi Olatomi, told The mother or father that “all public water sellers are selling infected water besides for one supplier called ‘Wonders Shall by no means stop’. This is where absolutely everyone that cares for clean water buys from. The irony is that the place is located close to the right of manner.”
Olatomi stated the situation is worrisome due to the fact everyone inside the vicinity is now in a tensed temper with fears that some other round of explosion could rock the vicinity if movement is not taken to repair the burst pipe and oil spillage.
“we have cried out to many authorities officials, consisting of the NNPC, Nigerian police and the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps, but there was no significant motion taken to restore the damage till date,” he said.
While contacted, the spokesperson of the Pipelines merchandise advertising employer (PPMC), Israel Edjerin, promised to mobilise its response team to take proper action on the problem, even though nothing has been performed as at press time.
Due to the development works on the new bridge to be located at Abule Egba junction, the proper of manner has been transformed to a brief opportunity direction to ease site visitors at the axis.