A very loud pipeline explosion that shook several houses rocks Abule Ado area of Ojo, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Sunday morning.
Thick smokes and balls of fire envelop the atmosphere as panic struck residents who scampered to safety.
View From Festac.
The explosion reverberated and shook houses several miles away.
Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA’s spokesman, Nosa Okunbor said the explosion might be that of pipeline explosion.
“LASEMA Team Heading to Abule Ado, Trade Fair axis for investigation of alleged pipeline explosion. Awaiting details and preliminary reports,” he said.
“That explosion shook my house. It woke me from sleep. It was so loud and scary.
“We were debating in my house where the sound came from and then, my sister called some friends in Satelite who confirmed it happened in their area and Abule Ado,” said Precious, who lived closed to the area.
An army personnel who craved anonymity said the explosion occurred behind Oando Gas Station at Abule Ado.
UPDATE
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says Sunday’s explosion which occurred at Abule Ado, Trade Fair axis of Lagos State was not caused by a disruption of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) oil pipeline.
Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Acting Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office, NEMA, made the clarification in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Farinloye said that contrary to information earlier put out on the social media, the explosion which occurred at about 9a.m. was unconnected to pipeline vandalism.
“From the information given by officials of the Lagos State Fire Service who are currently on ground, the implosion is not connected to pipeline but might have occurred in a factory located in the Abule Ado area.
“Emergency responders are on ground while others are still on their way to the scene. The situation is under control and we hope to get more information soon to ascertain its cause,” he said.
Farinloye said the NNPC had shutdown the pipeline passing through the area as a precautionary measure after the oil company was notified of the incident.
He also confirmed that several buildings were affected by the explosion which was heard several kilometers away in many parts of the state including Amuwo Odofin, Ijegun, and Agege.