LASEMA averts disaster at Igando with timely response to pipeline vandalization

Etim Ekpimah

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, on Friday, August 27, 2021, averted a major disaster in the Igando area of Lagos State, where a pipeline was burst open by vandals.

The burst pipeline was said to have threatened lives and property of residents as torrent of fuel from the broken pipeline rushed into potholes with some going into gutters, were being scooped by Lagosians.

It was learnt that safe for the timely intervention of LASEMA operatives, impending explosion was arrested as the area was being restored to normalcy.

Head, Public Affairs-LASEMA, Nosa Okunbor, on Friday, said: “Following the distress call escalated via the agency’s 767/112 Toll Free lines around 6.15 am and the agency’s swift 9-minute response time with time of arrival at 6.24 am, with its collaborators at the incident scene, they discovered Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS was flowing heavily into the drainage channels connecting Omoboriowo Street, Old Garage Ikotun Junction, New Garage Ikotun Junction, Ikotun Market and Igando/Ikotun LCDA.

According to Okunbor, LASEMA DG/CEO, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, from the Situation Report on Pipeline Vandalism at Omoboriowo Street, Pipeline Bus Stop Igando-Ikotun Road, Igando, said: “Upon arrival at the incident scene, it was observed that a very large volume of PMS was gushing out of the NNPC pipeline at the aforementioned location.

“Further investigation revealed that the heavy flow of PMS was caused by suspected pipeline vandalism and bunkering in the early hours of today Friday 27th August 2021. PMS is flowing heavily in the drainage channels connecting Omoboriowo Street, Old Garage Ikotun Junction, New Garage Ikotun Junction, Ikotun Market and Igando/Ikotun LCDA.

“Presently, there is no loss of life and property, serious sensitization, public education, and awareness is ongoing in the entire community to avoid any form of open flame and burning, in order to avoid any form of explosion or any other secondary incident, as the entire area has become highly vulnerable due to the heavy flow of the highly flammable PMS.

“Responders at the incident scene are LASEMA, LRU Fire, Lagos State Fire Service, NSCDC, NNPC, LASTMA, LNSC. Three fire trucks are currently on ground, while the NNPC Maintenance team is working to stop the flow to commence repairs. Operations ongoing”

Updates on the Pipeline Vandalism at Omoboriowo Street, Pipeline Bus Stop Igando-Ikotun Road, Igando states that the PMS flow from the pipeline has been successfully stopped, that the leakage has been successfully controlled by Officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation, (NNPC) Maintenance crew, while blanketing of the affected area is presently ongoing with the threat of impending fire disaster brought to ‘the lowest low.’

As a follow-up to its immediate actions when the operation started earlier today, LASEMA Response Unit, LRU, has commenced further blanketing at the other end of the community around Ikotun Market, BRT terminal and Synagogue Church, where vulnerability was considered as ‘still high’.

He added that the vandalised pipeline has been repaired by NNPC maintenance team and the entire area blanketed by LRU Fire and Lagos State Fire Service.