Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has finally issued a statement to the public, explaining the actual cause of Sunday’s catastrophic explosion in FESTAC, Lagos.
According to the statement that was signed by Dr Kennie Obateru, the Group Managing Director in charge of NNPC’s public relations, the catastrophe was caused by a gas explosion.
The NNPC also stated that preliminary investigations revealed that a truck had rammed into some cylinders that were stacked in the gas processing plant that was located close to the NNPC’s system 2B Pipeline Right of Way.
NNPC Group✔
1a. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (@NNPCgroup) Sunday said that the reported explosion which rocked Abule Ado Area of Lagos State in the early hours of the day was as a result of gas explosion…
NNPC Group✔@NNPCgroup
1b…which occurred after a truck hit some gas cylinders stacked in a gas processing plant located near the corporation’s system 2B Pipeline Right of Way.
Meanwhile, to further inspect the site of the accident as well as the extent of the damage, the NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, flew into Lagos late Sunday evening, along with some other top management of the company. He later gave a situation report via his personal Twitter account. He said:
“Departing explosion site. Explosions caused by spark that ignited fire from extensively charged atmosphere that emanated from gas cylinder leakages. NNPC pipeline also impacted and ignited. Fire being contained by combined efforts of NNPC, LASG NN and FFS.
“Lagos explosion update: NNPC pipeline right of way (ROW) encroachment by gas handling vendors and construction of houses enabled the explosion and aggravated the impact. Working with LASG and security agencies to clear the ROW.”
