A gas pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was on Wednesday ruptured by workers of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, who were working on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The incident caused panic among residents of Arepo and Magboro in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, where the NNPC pipeline is located, as well as motorists and commuters around the area.
It was gathered that the incident occurred around 9.30 am in front of the headquarters of Punch Nigeria Limited in, Magboro, Ogun State.
The deafening noise made by the gas leakage as a large volume of gas escaped from the underground pipeline caused residents and other people in the area to run helter-skelter.
Several business owners in the area closed their shops as a result of the development, as fears of a gas explosion spread around the area.
Men of the National Emergency Management Agency, Ogun State Fire Service and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency later cordoned off the area.
Vehicles were stopped on both sides of the expressway, causing a massive traffic gridlock on both sides.
Also, pupils of private and public schools located around Arepo and Magboro were sent home due to the deafening noise of the gas leakage.
The Director of the Ogun State Fire Service, Fatai Adefala, however said there was no loss of life or property as a result of the incident.
He said, “Julius Berger excavators hit the underground pipe and that was what caused the leakage. We deployed our men in the scene as soon as we got the information.
“When I got further details, I called the Department of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian Gas Company Plc to swing into action.”
The NNPC said in a statement by its spokesman Kennie Obateru, said the leakage was contained through the efforts of its team, officials of the Lagos State Government and other stakeholders.
Managing Director of the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company, a subsidiary of the NNPC, Faruk Usman, explained that the impacted section of the pipeline has been isolated and the pipeline depressurised such that it poses no danger to the public.
The NNPC urged members of the public to go about their duties normally as all safety measures had been put in place to avert any danger.
The corporation explained that repair work had commenced with a view to restoring gas supply through the pipeline as soon as possible.
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This Post: Panic as Julius Berger ruptures NNPC gas pipeline on Lagos-Ibadan expressway was approved and published by Ancity Media Editor and may not be republished elsewhere without prior written permission from the Editor.
