NNPC Reveals Real Cause of Lagos Explosion

The explosion that rocked Abule Ado in Festac town area of Lagos State, Nigeria’s commercial city was as a result of gas explosion, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said.

Naija News reports that the Lagos explosion which happened at about 8: 50 am, was said to have affected residents of Surulere, Ijegun, Ikotun, Egbeda, Abule Ado, Okota, Isheri Olofin, FESTAC, Satellite Town.

Some social media reports had claimed that the explosion emanated from an NNPC pipeline but this was dismissed on Sunday.

In a statement to newsmen, the NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, said investigations found that a truck hit some gas cylinders stacked in a gas processing plant located near the corporation’s system 2B Pipeline Right of Way which resulted in the explosion.

“The explosion was so huge that it led to the collapse of nearby houses and damaged NNPC pipeline and efforts were made to curtail the resultant fire,” he added.

Obateru added that the corporation has immediately stopped ongoing pumping operations on the Atlas Cove-Mosimi pipeline which was active at the time of explosion.

He said: “More fire firefighting personnel and equipment were mobilised from the NNPC Mosimi Area Office to provide extra fill up to the ongoing operation.

“Members of the public and residents of the affected communities should remain calm as the temporary shutdown of the petroleum products pipeline would not affect the normal supply of products to Lagos and its environs.

“The fire, currently burring at controlled conditions, was being fought headlong, a detailed assessment of the incident is underway to establish the extent of damage to the pipeline.”

Naija News reports that the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari and other top Management of the corporation departed for Lagos this evening for an on-the-spot assessment at the scene of the incident.