There was pandemonium in Ofada, a town along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State, on Saturday when fire erupted from a gas plant located on Ofada-Owode Road near Trinity College.
The Economy gathered that the fire started at 4.30pm when a crane that was lifting a gas tank to its base momentarily sank while delivering product at Bolu Gas Plant in Ofada. This made the vehicle to bend on the same side with the tank. The tank was said to have hit the body of the vehicle during the process and the friction produced sparks which ignited the fire.
When the fire started, there was stampede as people ran in different directions for safety. Some people narrowly escaped being hit by moving vehicles as the gas plant is located on a busy road connecting Ofada and Owode, headquarters of Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area.
The fire was put off by staff of the gas plant and neighbours using fire extinguishers before the arrival of a fire truck from the Redemption Camp.
Speaking with the The Nigerian Economy, a community leader who identified himself simply as Baba Aderemi decried the practice of siting a gas plant in residential areas. He called on the government to stop the trend with immediate effect.
“It is unfortunate and quite saddening that the government is not showing any concern regarding the siting of gas plants. Now, there are cooking gas sellers opening shops everywhere in the streets and the government has turned its face away from this dangerous trend. There is no more control; people just open gas shops as if they are selling sweets and biscuits. Government must rise to the occasion and stop this practice because it too dangerous,” Aderemi said.
Aderemi, a retired policeman, charged the government to immediately lock every gas shop or plant located in residential areas to avert disaster and loss of lives before it becomes too late.
