Anxiety spreads as gas explosions rock Ogun

There is growing anxiety among residents of Abeokuta, Ogun State, over series of gas explosions which have claimed about ten lives and destroyed property in the last week. Our correspondent examines the circumstances surrounding the ‘mysterious’ explosions.

Like a wildfire, the gas explosion which first rocked Abeokuta, Ogun State, on the eve of Eid-el-Fitri, has spread, killing and injuring many.

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It was 3 pm on a fateful day. And a technician was topping up gas for a faulty refrigerator at a residence in Oke-Egunya, along NTA Road, Abeokuta, in Abeokuta South Local Government Area.

“In the process, there was an attraction of fire from someone cooking with firewood and there came an explosion,” an eye witness said.

The explosion, immediately, killed three persons including an infant and injured four others.

While the dust was yet to settle, in less than 24 hours, another gas explosion hit a house on Sowemimo Street, off Mercy Road. It was on Eid-el-Fitri day.

Just like Wednesday’s explosion, Thursday’s explosion was reportedly triggered by refrigerator gas. It was gathered that the only victim of the inferno, a technician, Sanya Shonde, was later amputated.

And five days later, the raging explosion shifted to the palatial Conference Hotel, in the state capital, owned by former Governor Gbenga Daniel. Witnesses told Daily Trust on Sunday that four persons died while three others sustained varying injuries when oxyacetylene gas exploded in the hotel.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred during a routine maintenance of the automatic revolving door at the hotel’s reception area.

The oxyacetylene gas being used to weld the door triggered an explosion, killing about four people.

According to an eyewitness, the victims’ bodies were badly severed by the impact of the explosion and they could barely be identified.

However, the hotel management confirmed two dead and three injured during the incident.

A statement by the Hotel Facility Manager, Engr. Tunde Osinubi, described the incident as regrettable.

However, the management of the hotel the following day announced temporary closure to honour the victims.

When our correspondent visited the hotel on Wednesday, a terse statement displaced in front of the gate read “Dear esteemed guests, with regret to yesterday (Tuesday)’s ugly incident, there will be temporary closure of Conference Hotel, Abeokuta.”

Obasanjo Library hit too

Another explosion rocked the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library which is a stone throw from the Conference Hotel. Two lives were lost in the incident.

But the Managing Director of OOPL, Vitalis Ortese, while confirming the incident, said only a technical vendor died with his assistant sustaining injury.

According to him, the explosion occurred when the vendors were conducting routine servicing of the air conditioning units.

Ortese said “there have been reports of similar incidents across the state in the last one week, which calls for investigation by the appropriate authorities.”

As if the explosions were not done with its havoc in the state yet, another one hit Onikoko axis of Abeokuta. No death was recorded, however.

The question has remained: Why the serial explosions? No one seems to have an answer yet.

Residents, technicians fear adulterated gas in circulation

Residents of the state have expressed deep concerns over the incessant explosions, as they allege that fake and adulterated gas has been in circulation.

Daily Trust on Sunday observed that of all the incidents recorded, none involved cooking gas. Also, no investigation has supported the alleged circulation of adulterated gas.

Following the first two explosions, the family of one of the deceased victims has called on the Ogun State government to investigate the causes of the explosions.

The family of Sanya Shonde urged the state government to investigate the recurrence of gas explosion, describing it as more than coincidence.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Olalekan Junaid explained that the gas explosion which claimed the life of his uncle (Sanya Shonde) was not due to professional incapability, saying the deceased had been in the business for over 35 years.

He said the deceased was popularly known for his expertise as he had worked with big hostels both within and outside Ogun State.

He raised the alarm that adulterated gas might have been supplied to the town, stressing that, the issue must be quickly investigated to avert more casualties.

A group, Neo Black Movement of Africa, Abeokuta zone, raised the alarm over the alleged circulation of fake gas cylinders in the state.

The group’s president, Kayode Odunewu, in a statement, drew the attention of the general public to suspected fake gas cylinders in Abeokuta.

According to Odunewu, the development has wrecked havoc on unsuspecting citizens due to the inability of such fake gas cylinders to withstand gas pressure.

“We are calling on the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Association to curb this menace as a matter of urgency.

“It is on record that incidences of gas explosions as a result of fake cylinders have become rampant nationwide.”

Our correspondent visited some of the workshops in Abeokuta including Azeezco Venture owned by Malam Abdulazeez Oduntan.

Oduntan, who has been involved in refrigerator and AC gas business for over 20 years, told Daily Trust that he has stopped working presenting following the raging explosion.

He said “I have been investigating the cause of the recent gas explosions in the state and I found out that oxygen cannot explode like that. What can explode like that is gas, which everybody uses in cooking at home.

“In the OOPL explosion, I discovered that the cylinder used – the R600, is what everybody uses in buying cooking gas. It was that cylinder that burst. And the one that happened at the Conference hotel, it was also the cylinder that burst.”

Oduntan said the first casualty of the explosion and technician, Sola Makinde, was his friend and colleague.

“The victim of the first gas explosion was my close friend. We used to work together. Any time I have a job outside and I can’t handle it alone, I take him along. He was with me on Tuesday before the incident happened on Wednesday.

“Since the incidents, I have been very careful, in fact, I don’t feel like working again. I have been wondering about the cause of the explosions, I don’t know whether it is oxygen or gas that is causing the explosions.

“The only way we can be safe is when an investigation is conducted to ascertain the cause of the explosions and then find a lasting solution to it. Nobody is safe until we find a solution to the problem because it is the same gas we have been using before now. How come we are having these explosions now?”

“However, we must not be careless. It may be the hose that we use in connecting the cylinder that is faulty. The issue is beyond us; it is only the government that can investigate the issue. We buy the gas from somewhere; so, the government should trace the problem to the root.”

The Director Fire Service in the state, Engr Fatai Adefala, told our correspondent the incidences could be blamed on ignorance of the people.

“The people should be careful about whatever they do. We are trying to enlighten the public on how to make use of fire extinguishers when such incidents occur. Everybody should have a fire extinguisher at home.”

On the alleged adulterated gas, he said “It is possible, but I don’t know. Those cylinders, are we sure they have not expired? Those are the things we have to watch out for. Even the cooking gas we use at home, they have an expiry date. People should always look out for expiration date and if it is expired, don’t throw it away. Let us make sure that we compress it so that it wouldn’t be useful to anybody again. If you throw it away, someone else may find it, repaint and start using it again. But it is good to compress the cylinder so that it cannot be useful to anybody again.”

While conducting his probe panel round the scene at the Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Edward Ajogun, confirmed that the state recorded four explosion incidents within a week.

Ajogun said “the state government is worried, that is why the governor has directed that we launch an investigation into the frequent gas explosions we have witnessed between the 12th of May and today.”

Meanwhile, the Ogun State government has commiserated with families of the victims of the gas explosions, warning against adulteration of the product.

The government also summoned a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the development.

The stakeholders’ meeting, which is part of measures being taken to find a lasting solution to the problem, will have in attendance dealers, cylinder manufacturers and retailers in that sector.

The governor warned that anyone found guilty of selling adulterated gas products or violating safety protocols in the state would be visited with the full weight of the law.

He has also directed law enforcement agencies and environmental and safety personnel to move round the nooks and crannies of the state to investigate and bring to book those found culpable of any sharp practices or negligence that could have caused the gas explosions.

The governor also warned business owners against violating safety protocols guiding the location of businesses in residential areas as they would be prosecuted if they are caught.