Five years after Ijegun explosion, victims allege neglect





Victims of pipeline explosion at Ijegun, a suburb of Lagos State, say five years after, they have yet to get compensation from the government.

 The incident claimed the lives of 19 persons while no fewer than 250 persons sustained injuries.

It was learnt that the community had sued Lagos State Government, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Petroleum Product Marketing Company for N97bn damages.

However, the community was said to have reconsidered its decision after a traditional ruler intervened to avoid a prolonged legal battle.

At a negotiation  meeting with the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the chairman of the Ijegun Fire Victims, Mr. Olaseni Shoewu, said the community decided to withdraw the matter from the court because the government agreed to give financial support to those affected by the inferno.

He said, "The General Manager of the LASEMA has been cooperative. He told us to negotiate with the government.

"We have agreed to stop the court process, because if we continue, in the next five years, nothing will be done. Government is not giving us compensation, what they have decided to give is financial succour to the victims."

Shoewu, who said he lost his house and sustained some injuries in the wake of the explosion, added that there had been three attempts on his life because people thought he had betrayed the victims of the fire and taken money from the parties in the matter.

He said the community intends to go after the other parties after receiving the support from the state because the explosion was due to their negligence.

He said, "Many people thought we caused the fire, whereas we didn't and we have never been involved in pipeline vandalism. NNPC for instance was supposed to provide the safety. They buried the pipes on a shallow area, not meeting the international standards, but today, after the incident had occurred and lives lost, they just re-buried them about 2.8 metres, which is the international standard."

General Manager, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osayintolu, told our correspondent that the state government decided to pay the victims N81m to show how responsive and caring the administration is.

He said the money would be disbursed based on the level of damage suffered by victims.

Oke-Osayinolu said, "The Babatunde Fashola administration has decided to pay N81m for the assistance of the victims and this will be in five categories.

"Those who were severely affected, meaning those who died, then there is severely affected, moderately affected and mildly affected."



Punch