Updated: 5 dead, 25 houses, vehicles razed as another gas explosion hits Lagos

Five persons were on Thursday confirmed dead, several others injured, while houses, shops and vehicles razed when another gas explosion hit Lagos.

It was the second of such disaster in Nigeria’s economic capital and its Ogun neighbourhoods- Akute where a gas explosion left tears and sorrows in its wake on September 24, 2020.

Lagos in recent years has witnessed increased and indiscriminate siting of liquefied petroleum gas (cooking gas) stations without the government, either at the national or sub-national level bothering to put in place regulatory measures to guarantee safety, and avert recurring explosions with their attendant deaths and destruction of properties.

The yesterday’s explosion, according to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), occurred at about 6am at a gas station belonging to Best Roof Cooking Gas, located at Unity Bus Stop, in Baruwa area, Ipaja, Lagos.

“Preliminary investigation carried out at the scene revealed that the gas station belonging to Best Roof Cooking Gas exploded and burnt adjoining buildings.

Unfortunately, five deaths were recorded and eight others injured. A combined effort of the LASEMA’s Tiger team, Dolphin team, LRU Fire, Lagos State Fire Service, Nigeria Police, Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) were on ground to curtail the spread of the fire to other buildings,” said Femi Oke-Osayintolu, managing director of LASEMA.

According to Oke-Osayintolu, post disaster assessment carried out by LASEMA revealed that this was an entirely avoidable incident caused by carelessness on the part of the operators.

Giving further details of the disaster, Oke-Osayintolu said “five fatalities recovered, eight casualties with major burns have been transferred to the Gbagada General Hospital Burns Unit.

“25 houses damaged of which 10 were classified as “severely affected,” 16 shops razed by the fire, one private primary school, one hotel affected, three vehicles comprising of a pickup truck, tricycle and motorcycle.”

The LASEMA MD, however, encouraged residents to report unsavoury and dangerous practices within their neighborhoods to the relevant agencies which include Lagos Safety Commission, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency “so that the government can engage in more prevention and precautionary measures including issuing contravention notices and sealing up premises to prevent these types of disasters.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has extended government’s sysmpathy to the families who lost their loved ones in the disaster.

Sanwo-Olu in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Gboyega Akosile said: “The gas explosion this morning has left a sour taste in my mouth. It is a reminder of the dark episode of March this year at Abule Ado Soba when innocent lives were lost to gas explosions of monumental proportion and properties destroyed. I really can’t believe that we would witness another such incident, no matter how little.”

“I wish to therefore register my heartfelt condolences to the families of those that lost their loved ones in the fire. I pray that God grant their souls eternal rest.”