402 properties destroyed in Abule Egba pipeline explosion —NEMA

The National Emergency Management Agency has said 320 shops, 78
vehicles and four residential buildings were destroyed by the Abule
Egba pipeline explosion which occurred on December 19.

The spokesperson for NEMA, South-West Zone, Mr Ibrahim
Farinloye, who said this in an interview with our correspondent in
Lagos on Sunday revealed that those whose properties were destroyed
by the inferno would likely get relief materials from the Federal
Government.

He said the figures were obtained from the assessment carried
out by the agency at the scene of the disaster which many said was
caused by vandals, who ruptured the pipeline to steal fuel from
it.

Farinloye said about 320 shops including lock-up and
containerised shops located on the following streets: Arowolo;
Shobowale; Karonwi; Santos; Owode; Taiwo Adewole and Wamon Taofeek
were affected. The leaked product had spilled to the streets before
catching up with a live flame at an abattoir.

“Three hundred and twenty one traders were affected while four
residential buildings (three bungalows and one building of
three-bedroomed of four flats, were destroyed. The number of
families affected in the buildings was 52 while 78 vehicles were
burnt but the figure could be higher. Infrastructures affected are
electric poles, high-tension cables, drainage culverts.

“The Federal Government may be magnanimous to approve various
relief materials to the victims who had lost their sources of
livelihood. This administration has always been humane and emphatic
to the plights of such victims. Based on this, FG may consider
provisions of relief materials to help the victims to kick-start
their lives.”

Earlier, the Vice-President of Arowolo Youth Forum, Mr Innocent
Amidu, had appealed to the Federal Government and the Lagos State
Government to compensate the victims of the explosion.