The Governor of Lagos State, Governor Sanwo-Olu has expressed his sadness over the Abule-Ado explosion that saw many losing their lives, and others sustaining various degrees of injuries, with properties worth hundreds of millions of naira destroyed.
Governor Sanwo-Olu who expressed his deep sadness on the unfortunate incident, said:
“Today is indeed a sad day for residents of Abule-ado and environs, and for all Lagosians.
I hereby express my heartfelt condolences to victims of the explosion that erupted earlier this morning and left burning buildings, collapsed structures, and loss of lives in its wake,” he said.
He continued by saying that the government we will conduct thorough investigations to get to the root of Abule-Ado Explosion,
“All relevant agencies are fully on ground to put out fires, search for victims trapped in the rubble and administer first aid where necessary.
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has also been instructed to immediately distribute personal safety equipment, like face and nose protection masks to first responders, safety workers and residents of the affected area.
I hereby urge residents in the area to maintain a safe distance from the disaster scene, to avoid inhaling polluted air, and to please allow the emergency workers to carry out their duties.
May the souls of those who lost their lives Rest In Peace. Amen,” he said.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Sunday revealed that about 15 corpses, including a family of four, were recovered from the scene of Sunday’s Abule-Ado explosion.
The acting coordinator of NEMA in Lagos, Ibrahim Farinloye had told NAN that a couple and their two sons were among those who died in the Abule-Ado explosion. He said they were on their way to church when the unfortunate incident happened.
At least 60 students of Bethlehem Girls College located within the area who sustained various degrees of injuries were taken to the Nigerian Navy Hospital in Satellite town.
Farinloye said over 50 buildings, including Bethlehem Girls College and a popular hotel, were damaged in the explosion.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says that a gas explosion caused the blast.
In a statement by the Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division, Dr Kennie Obateru, on Sunday, the blast occurred after a truck hit some gas cylinders stacked in a gas processing plant located near the corporation’s System 2B pipeline right of way.
He added that preliminary findings indicated that the impact of the explosion was huge that it led to the collapse of nearby houses and damaged some NNPC pipelines.