Disaster Averted as NNPC Ruptured Pipeline Floods Neighbourhood

What could have been a huge disaster was yesterday averted, when a ruptured Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline spilled loads of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on the streets of Ijegun Imore behind Navy Town Statelite Town, Lagos.

Over 150 residential buildings were saved from the risk of fire disaster, after immediate repairs on the pipelines were carried out by two teams of NNPC personnel who were deployed to the area. 

Confirming the incident, the Spokesperson, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South-west zone, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said it would have been a huge disaster if the residents had gone to scoop the spilt fuel.

He said, "The incident happened on Saturday evening and we were only alerted this afternoon and thankfully, the residents did not attempt to scoop the fuel.

"From past experiences whereby residents attempt to scoop fuel from ruptured pipelines, we would have been talking about death in their numbers because such scooping often leads to explosion.

"Immediately, we got the information, we stormed there and all resources were mobilised to prevent the risk of the spill developing into disaster. 

"First, supply sources and valves were blocked while emergency agencies tried to carry out an assessment, after which the ruptured pipeline was repaired."

 Although he could not say if the rupture was caused by vandals, he said the community had however encroached about 15metres of land surrounding the pipeline.

He said, "Ordinarily, there was a signpost indicating a right of way for the pipelines but the community had removed it and encroached on the land.

"As stipulated, the right of way should have been 30metres away from residential buildings but the residents had encroached about 15 meters of land, leaving themselves at risk of fire outbreak."

Farinloye added that National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), has been notified on the spill and that they would commence a clean-up exercise from today.

He urged members of the community to keep off from encroaching on government facilities especially hazardous ones like pipelines, which could be fatal if triggered off.