Lagos warns pipeline vandals

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has warned pipeline vandals to desist from vandalising pipelines, saying the state government is determined to bring the full weight of law against economic saboteurs.

The state, he said, would also be collaborating with the federal authorities to strengthen security around oil pipeline facilities across the state.

Sanwo-Olu, who visited victims of the recent Ijegun pipeline fire incident receiving treatment at the trauma and burns unit of the Gbagada General Hospital, Wednesday, however, said the government would foot the medical bill of the victims.

Accompanied by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, the governor went round the three wards where some of the victims were receiving treatment for various degrees of injuries. Among the survivors are three children and four adults.

While describing the incident as unfortunate, Sanwo-Olu bemoaned criminal activities around oil pipeline right of ways.

“We are here to see the victims receiving treatment and assess their healing process. Although, we had a few fatalities, there are many survivors with different degrees of burn. They are responding well to treatment. I spoke with them and assured that government will do everything to ensure they get well.

“This kind of unfortunate incident must be a lesson for all of us. We cannot continue to witness loss of lives to this kind of preventable crimes. Those who are bent on making illegal wealth at the expense of other people’s lives should have a rethink.”

The governor also cleared the air on why he did not visit the scene of the fire incident.
He said: The issue of pipeline vandalism is a criminal issue being dealt with by the Federal Government. For us in the state, my deputy and I did not visit the site of the incident, because we didn’t want to make a camera show at the scene.

This is not because we don’t have empathy or we are not doing what is required of us; it is a crime scene and security operatives are at the site for investigation. We don’t want to disrupt that process.”

Sanwo-Olu said also took time to inspect the abandoned cardiac and renal centre located inside the Gbagada General Hospital.