Lagos explosion, a national tragedy, says Buhari

TRACKING_____ President Muhammadu Buhari has described the explosion at Abule-Ado, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State yesterday as a national tragedy.

The President sympathised with families of the victims of the explosion.

Buhari, according to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant, Mallam Garba Shehu, condoled with the Lagos State government and all residents affected by the unfortunate incident, which killed many, left several injured and destroyed property.

He said: “I have received with sadness the news of this unfortunate incident which caused loss of lives and property.

“A misfortune of whatever scale anywhere is a tragedy to the country and while the NNPC makes efforts to determine the cause of the incident, I send my deepest and profound sympathises to the victims, their families, government and people of Lagos State.”

Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has expressed sadness over the pipeline explosion.

Gbajabiamila, who sympathised with the victims of the explosion, called for calm as the state government makes frantic efforts to ascertain the cause of the incident.

The Speaker commended the Lagos State Government as well as relevant agencies for taking action following the explosion.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker said everything should be done to avert the reoccurrence of such incident in future.

“My heart goes out to the people of Abule Ado, especially the victims of the explosion, in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area. I also sympathise with the people and Government of Lagos State over the incident

“May I call on all the agencies of government to do diligent work to ascertain the cause of the explosion to avert a reoccurrence,” Gbajabiamila said.

Meanwhile, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has advised residents to maintain a safe distance from the scene of the explosion as the site was still live.

Sanwo-Olu, who urged residents in the community to make safety their priority, instructed the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) to immediately release personal safety equipment such as face and nose protection masks to be distributed to first responders, residents of the affected area and all safety workers at the scene. The safety equipment had been delivered.

A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said Sanwo-Olu sent the protective equipment to the affected site to prevent any form of medical hazard such as respiratory infections by the residents who might unknowingly inhale toxic substances from the explosion.

The governor noted that in a situation like this, there would be a lot of unhealthy substances that couls affect people’s lungs.

Sanwo-Olu, however, reiterated the need for the residents to maintain a safe distance as practicable to avoid breathing in polluted air.

Also, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has condoled with the government and the people of Lagos State over the explosion.

The governor, who reacted via a statement, sympathised with his Lagos counterpart, Sanwo-Olu, affected victims as well as their relations.

Akeredolu said in the statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, that there was need for extra vigilance and caution to avoid future occurrence.

The governor added that the sad development, which was avoidable, would no doubt reinvigorate the consciousness of government and Nigerians irrespective of status to safety measures.