* Al-Makura, University don commiserate with victims
Nine people have been confirmed dead from the gas explosion in Lafia, Nasarawa state as victims with severe injuries were transferred to national hospital for additional medical services.
The state governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, confirmed the number of the victims on Tuesday when he personally visited the filling station to access the level of destruction and commiserate with the victims of the explosion.
Al-Makura told newsmen that, “A day like this for us in Nasarawa state is a day of mourning; it is an unfortunate and sad situation. I would like to extend my sympathy and condolence to the families of those who lost their lives; we pray also that Almighty God would heal those that were affected.”
“When I got the report, I rush to see things myself, and before I came about, six people have died. This morning, two out of those taken to the national centre also died, making a total of eight persons. And just as I was about reaching here, I was told that one patient also died, a little child.”
“We have 36 people that were affected and some of them were admitted; those with severe pains of serious situations were referred to the National Hospital in Abuja. Unfortunately, the gravity of the situation is up with about 60 percent and it becomes a very severe case which I directed that they should be given the best treatment for them to recover, even if the situation require taking them outside the country for treatment,” he added.
The governor stressed that government would ensure compliance of locational approval of any of this volatile business within the vicinity of towns to ensure the safety of lives and properties of the people.
“I just directed a committee to be constituted in order to review the locational approval of all these volatile business in towns.Those that are already in operation have to also comply with this locational approval that has a minimal distance of about 100 meters from the nearest settlement.”
The governor instructed restriction of movement around the area for seven days to continue monitoring the station, as leakages continued around the filling station and pledged to review filling station structures 100 meter away from residential buildings in the state.
…University don mourns victims
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Lafia, (Fulafia) Prof. Muhammad Sanusi Liman, has commiserated with victims of the gas explosion in Lafia.
Liman who offered his condolence in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Lafia, sympathised with the government and people of the state over the incident and expressed shock over the incident
“It is unfortunate that this disaster occurred now when Nigerians are fervently praying for peace, unity and development,” he said.
He described the inferno as ‘unfortunate’ and prayed God to grant the survivors speedy recovery, the dead eternal rest and their families the fortitude to bear the loss. He prayed for the quick recovery of those on admission in the hospital and others within and outside Lafia.
He, however, called on the authorities to relocate those selling gas, petrol and other flammable substances to safe areas to forestall future accident.
Liman commended the emergency agencies for their prompt response to the disaster, saying that “I felt proud to be an indigene of this state because of what they’ve done.”
Liman equally praised the management of the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) Lafia for provision of prompt medical services and saving the lives of many of the victims.
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