• As Business Owners Recount Losses

• Safiu Kehinde

At least four people were burnt to death with over twenty others injured in Lagos gas tanker explosion.

The tragic incident, which occurred on Tuesday night under the popular Otedola bridge, left many residents in shock and affected business owners in utter despair as they recounted their losses.

NPO Reports gathered that the incident occurred around 7;30pm following a break failure by the truck conveying the gas.

As observed by NPO Reports on Wednesday morning- few hours after the incident, operatives of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service were on ground with Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) officials to evacuate the affected vehicles and the tanker which was heavily sprayed to suppress the gas content.

Describing the moment the explosion occurred, Hyacinth Kayintor, an eyewitness and business owner, said he thought the world had come to an end as the vehicles engulfed in flames.

“I felt very bad yesterday. I got the news at exactly 20 minutes to 8.

“I was nearby when I saw fire flames. I was even thinking the world has come to an end. It was very surprising.

“I am not directly affected but it has affected a lot of businesses here and I believe it’s not a good experience for those people and I feel very bad.” he said,

Coupled with the loss lives, the explosion also wrought heavy damage on a nearby building which was razed with its roof strewed by the impact of the explosion.

Two mechanic workshops were also torched by the explosion with six vehicles, two trucks, and nine tricycles burnt.

Confirming the number of casualties, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Director, Operations and Maintenance, Engr. Olatunde Akinsanya, gave an account how the incident occurred.

According to him, the vehicle conveying the gas had developed a technical failure on its way to offload its content.

The vehicle rolled back, colliding with some vehicle before bursting up in flames.

“Yesterday evening, we have a gas tanker explosion under the bridge of Otedola. They vehicle was in an attempt to climb the gate towards the Magodo estate on its way to discharge gas content.

“However, it suddenly developed mechanical fault. Of course, eyewitness informed us that as the vehicle developed fault, it was unable to navigate itself to the compound where it was going to discharge the gas that it started rolling back and of course it came at a time when some people were going back to their house.

“Unfortunately, the vehicle rolled back and rammed into some of the victims.

“LASEMA, together with Lagos State Fire, Police, FRSC, LASTMA, we were all here putting all of the state government’s resources together to ensure there was a swift response and recovery.

“Quite large number of victims were recovered alive and were treated by LASEMA ambulance. They were treated and stabilized. Some were discharged immediately.

“As at yesterday, were able to recover about four adults that suffered high degrees of burn and were not alive.

“In total now we have four fatalities and more than 20 people who were rescued alive.” Akinsanya said.

Also addressing newsmen, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Director General, Bakare Oki, stated that the authority’s officials were the first respondent to arrive at the scene of the explosion.

“We were the first to get here. Immediately we called on other major responders viz-a-viz Lagos State Fire Service, the Lagos State Ambulance Service, the Nigerian Police. Ans since yesternight, all hands have been on deck to make sure that all the victims that have been rescued, the needful have been done.

“While some tankers have been removed yesternight, you can see, the recovery is still continuous. We have to go and muster a 150 crane so that we will be able to pick up the tanker.” Oki said.

The LASTMA boss noted the authority’s efforts in mitigating such negative occurrence through sensitizing of the truck drivers and their companies.

“The agency is doing everything possible to make sure that it mitigates this negative occurrence by making sure we visit all the companies, including tankers and trucks.

“We do monthly engagement with them. At times we do robust training with the drivers, telling them why we should always prioritize safety.” He added.

Meanwhile, operators of the tricycles burnt by the explosion seek government’s support over their loss.

Mojeed Ogooluwa, who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved operators, disclosed that most of the burnt tricycles were acquired on hired purchase with some operators yet to complete their payment.

“We need the government to support us because we don’t have any other opportunity. These Maruwa now, we collect them on hired purchase, and we have to pay the owner back.

“One of the owners was even insisting that we must buy his Maruwa back. We just need government’s support because we don’t have anybody after God.

“We don’t want to cause any violence. All we need is government support.” He said.