Tolls of gas explosion: Government’s duties and citizens’ obligations
Gas explosion has come recently to contribute another social-economic subject rousing emerging concerns. The catastrophe of losses of lives and properties accompanying such incidents have left unsavoury narratives behind. Last Week, a gas explosion on Tuesday 16th November, at the Ojekunle Street in the Ladipo area of Mushin, Lagos State, had left no less than five persons dead, leaving 10 others injured while destroying 12 vehicles and some buildings. The explosion which occurred at a gas shop on 33/35, Ojekunle Street, Ladipo spareparts market at 8.15 a.m. left people injuries in a stampede that trailed the blast. Lagos State Emergency Management Agency had said the explosion occurred at an open land with shanties and shops where gas cylinders were stacked.
Following the incidents, the Senate had commenced a probe into the explosion, mandating its Committees on Petroleum Downstream and Gas to, as a matter of urgency, investigate the remote and immediate causes of the explosion and report back to the Senate to take steps towards avoiding future occurrences. The Committees are chaired by Senators Sabo Mohammed Nakudu (APC, Jigawa South-West) and James Manager (PDP, Delta South) respectively. The Upper Chamber had also directed the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to immediately send relief materials to affected victims and offset medical bills of hospitalised victims. Resolutions of the Senate, on Wednesday, 17 November, 2021, were sequel to a motion titled, “Urgent need to Investigate Gas Explosion at Ladipo Area, Mushin LGS resulting in Loss of Lives and massive destruction of property.” The motion was sponsored by Senator Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Lagos West).
The spate of explosion have also been known to have taken recurring toll in neighbouring Ogun State. In Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the rising spate of gas explosion incidents had in May recorded no less than seven persons dead while a number were critically injured following spate of explosions within a space of 10 days.
On Wednesday, May 12, 2021, three persons, including an infant were burnt to death in a gas explosion that occurred in Oke-Egunya, along Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Road in Abeokuta South Local Council Area. The explosion had occurred when a technician was topping up the gas of a faulty refrigerator. Barely 24 hours thereafter, another explosion on Mercy Road, Panseke, had left the only victim, Sanya Shonde – a technician, injured, leading to the amputation of his leg. On Tuesday 18th, the Conference Hotel, Oke-Mosan, owned by the former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, was hit by a gas explosion, which left two dead with three others critically injured. It was reported that a technician and an unidentified person died by the explosion, which reportedly occurred as a result of usage of a fake gas cylinder, while servicing a revolving door at the hotel.
Barely a day after, another explosion hit the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), located directly opposite the Conference hotel, leaving another two persons dead in the incident. The explosion, which reportedly occurred at the Marque Event Centre in the premises of the library around 11.00am, was triggered when technicians were topping up gas into an air condition at the event centre. Also, on Friday, 21 May, another incident was recorded at the Onikoko area of the town. It was gathered that an industrial gas belonging to a construction company exploded throwing projectiles, which injured the victims. It was reported that an iron splinter from the exploded gas cylinder flew to about 200 metres inside St. Leo’s College, Onikoko, which hit a woman on her chest, leaving her with injuries. The explosion reportedly affected residential buildings around the area, shattering walls and glasses, while many vehicles were also reportedly destroyed at Mercy Road, Onikolobo.
The fatalities from gas related incidents is pitching towards records of collosal losses which effects portend threats on socio-economic activities in the Country. Hence, the need for attention to be paid on the rising phenomenon is paramount. However, it is imperative that such attention to address the phenomenon is one which demands contributory efforts from all citizens on the public level, as well as intervention from government authorities within the Country.
Recently, following the rising toll of gas explosion incidents, the State Chapter of the Ogun State National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) had appealed to residents of the State to be cautious of adulterated domestic gas cylinder to avoid gas explosion in their homes. A statement by the body enjoins residents to refill or purchase gas cylinders from certified and authorised merchants only. The statement had partly read: “Ask your gas merchants to check your cylinder for leakage through either the valve, regulator, connecting hose or the cooking burner; replace your gas cylinder if it is already expired; where applicable, keep your cylinder outside the kitchen to minimize risk or danger and do not spray insecticide where gas cylinder is kept. Use gas cylinder in a ventilated area and do not use electric devices such as laptops and phones near cylinders. These devices can cause a spark and trigger already leaked gas to ignite and avoid shaking cylinder to check the level of gas left. We urge us all to be watchful of our environment too at this perilous time.”
The importance of such enlightenment to get citizens acquainted with the guidelines on the usage of gas for domestic purposes is paramount. This is significant considering the fact that the usage of the system is a new recourse many are just trying to adopt as alternative to other sources of energy for domestic purposes. Hence, the need for Non Governmental Organisations and the Government to intensify efforts on sensitisation becomes essential.
In addition, following the spate of incidents, it has become instructive for the Government to reel out operating standards for business outlets engaging in the trade and usage of gas for small, medium and large-scale commercial purposes. The need to set in tune human safety protocols to checkmark the modus operandi of these operators has becone pertinent for work place standards to forestall colossal losses as recorded so far. Recently, the Ogun state government sealed-off an industrial gas retailing depot at Omida and a gas plant in Idi-Ori area. The need to coordinate the crafting of industrial policies around the large-scale usage and commercial operations of gas have become important. It is sacrosanct that the Government plays its regulatory role, while businesses and individuals toll the line of obligations for societal safety.
