Emmanuel Ochayi
Early this Friday morning, fire engulfed the newly rebranded NNPC Terminal on Kayode Street, Marine Beach, Apapa, Lagos State.
Eyewitnesses described a massive explosion around 11 am, prompting frantic efforts to contain the blaze before emergency responders arrived.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelMrs. Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, confirmed the incident, attributing it to a spillage of petroleum products within the terminal’s perimeter. “The fire resulted from a spillage of petroleum products within the perimeter of the tank farm,” she stated, emphasizing the collaborative efforts underway to manage the situation.
“The public is hereby assured that the emergency operation is under control from escalating further,” Adeseye reassured.
The Lagos State Fire Service echoed this sentiment, reporting their active presence at the scene alongside multiple emergency response teams from the oil and gas sector. They emphasized ongoing efforts to effectively contain the situation and prevent further escalation.
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Meanwhile, recent reports of an explosion near Shell’s Gbaran Ubie oil and gas installation in Bayelsa state earlier this week have heightened concerns about industrial safety in Nigeria. The incident, which occurred during pipeline repair operations, caused significant alarm but has since been contained without necessitating a shutdown of operations.
Michael Adande, spokesperson for Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), provided updates, stating, “We are pleased to report that the fire outside our Gbaran Central Processing Facility in Bayelsa went out last night.” He confirmed plans for a Joint Investigation Visit to determine the cause and assess any operational impacts.
In response to these incidents, stakeholders are calling for enhanced safety protocols and stricter adherence to environmental and operational standards within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. Public safety remains a top priority as authorities continue to manage and investigate these occurrences.
As the NNPC and other stakeholders work diligently to stabilize the situation in Apapa, updates will be provided to ensure transparency and public awareness. Efforts are focused on minimizing the impact of such incidents on both human lives and the environment, underscoring the critical need for robust emergency response capabilities and proactive safety measures across the industry.
