NOT AGAIN!! -200 dead in Nigeria pipeline blast

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[I Love Nigeria]

Zoning Laws in Nigeria are local municipalities determined

Zoning Laws in Nigeria are local municipalities determined.....and not federally determined

Municipal Ordinances specifies zones for residences and commerce and industry

BUT, what the heck? Let us blame President Obasanjo! He is not sexy! Senator Tinubu and Senator Mamora are sexy!

Did Asiwaju Tinubu not bulldoze his way into the Associated Crooks or Active Crooks party? Active Crooks is Mr. Atiku's party too right?

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by I Love Nigeria

Zoning Laws in Nigeria are local municipalities determined

Zoning Laws in Nigeria are local municipalities determined.....and not federally determined

Municipal Ordinances specifies zones for residences and commerce and industry

BUT, what the heck? Let us blame President Obasanjo! He is not sexy! Senator Tinubu and Senator Mamora are sexy!

Did Asiwaju Tinubu not bulldoze his way into the Associated Crooks or Active Crooks party? Active Crooks is Mr. Atiku's party too right?

ILN, All:

Please, please and please; allow us rant and rave and froth at the mouth like mad dogs as much as we want today! Our hearts bleed to see, yet again, the charred bodies of human beings roasted to death like flies. A sense of shame descends over some of us as Nigerians! This is not the moment to absolve anyone - it is NOT the moment to absolve any leader at any level! Why? Because it is the same story of pathetic inefficiency from the top down! The federal government, overall, has had a woeful performance in managing our affairs! And at states' level where the FG has been the almighty meddler - the distabilizing factor - things are just as woeful - if not worse. Don't even mention the local government level - assuming it exists at all.

The question we should be asking ourselves is, why should people be so desperare for petroleum products when we are one of the richest nations in black crude on Earth? Why should there be ANY scarcity at all? Why do we have to import a product that countries who don't even have crude oil underneath their soil and waters refine with ease? Why haven't our refineries been fixed in nearly eight years of Obasanjo's leadership?

And where are the federal laws that protect the citizens from people who build homes next to pipelines - laws that prevent the erections of these structures in the first place? And if these laws exist, when has the federal government of Nigeria risen to ensure that the laws are followed, such that local governments or individuals that fail to live up to their responsibilities of enforcing these laws, or flout these laws, are fined/sanctioned accordingly?

I saw on a tag attached to my pillow the other day, on it was printed in bold, an American federal law that forbids the removal of that safety instruction for that pillow! That is a nation that cares for her people!!! And I am sure that America hasn't recorded a miniscule of pillow-related deaths as we have recorded in petrol fire disasters in the last 10 years! Now, ISN'T THAT ENOUGH REASON FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER IT AN URGENT CASE - THAN ENACTING ANTI-HOMOSEXUAL LAWS?

Why are we trying to protect the federal government of Olusegun Obasanjo from recieving its share of blame for the too many disasters that have been wrought on this nation in recent years? Leadership at the top will always take the blame wether we like it or not! Or why did the George W. Bush government get the lion share of the blame for the shoddy handling of Katrina's aftermath?

Folks..! The responsibility for economic situation in Nigeria, coupled with the now disgraceful fuel scarcity situation in which we find ourselves every so often and the terrible insecurity across the land is Mr. Obasanjo's! Over 200 people were burnt to death for goodness sake! Too many innocent Nigerians have died this year alone. It's like Obasanjo and his government is cursed! I can't wait to see him go - he and his baggage of inefficiency. So he gave us mobile telephony..so he paid off our debts. AND? So f***ing what? Where is the outcome of all that?

Before the issue of building codes and local government laws comes up, there is the issue of economic situation, which is worsened every time another fuel shortage problem arises. All these make people even more desperate - they dare the devil and go scooping for petroleum products from broken pipelines. Without the preceeding shortages, without the preceeding situation of poverty and lack of law enforcement that stalks the land, the issue of dangerous siphoning of fuel from ruptured pipelines will not arise - at least, not on the level of frequency it now does.

Only recently have we begun to see cases of NNPC pipeline fire disaster in the cities..and I can't believe that fact is lost on some of our most intelligent commentators here at NVS. The Jesse fire disaster, which for example happened in the bush outside a Village, killed a far larger number of people than yesterday's when it happened. And does anyone remember the last fire at some beach just outside Lagos city limits a few months ago? Well, which local leaders do we blame for that disaster? Does that not show the problem we have boils down to the economic situation that feeds the kind of senseless desperation we see across the land?

Which local leaders do we blame for that? It's the economy, Folks! It is the failure of the federal government, whose overall responsibilty for the safety and progress of the people of this nation falls its hands. And in a nation like ours, where the central so powerful it makes the remaining strata of governance look like dead sheep, the central must take the blame for most things that affect us! And that is why we are calling for the head of the Olori Oko (Chief Farmer/Headmaster), Olusegun Obasanjo!

Auspicious.

[katampe]

Which local leaders do we blame for that? It's the economy, Folks! It is the failure of the federal government, whose overall responsibilty for the safety and progress of the people of this nation falls its hands. And in a nation like ours, where the central so powerful it makes the remaining strata of governance look like dead sheep, the central must take the blame for most things that affect us! And that is why we are calling for the head of the Olori Oko (Chief Farmer/Headmaster), Olusegun Obasanjo!

Auspicious.

[/QUOTE]

Which local leaders do we blame for that? It's the economy, Folks! It is the failure of the federal government, whose overall responsibilty for the safety and progress of the people of this nation falls its hands. And in a nation like ours, where the central so powerful it makes the remaining strata of governance look like dead sheep, the central must take the blame for most things that affect us! And that is why we are calling for the head of the Olori Oko (Chief Farmer/Headmaster), Olusegun Obasanjo!

Auspy,

You are right, but we also have our share of the blame. How old were the Enahoros, the Awolowos, the Nnmadi Azikwes when they fought for the independence of the country? The Soyinkas were activists, and even Gani Fawehinmi became activists at what age?

How old is Olusegun Obasanjo that everyone has become so fixated with? An old man that I am not sure understands what download or upload means. But, these are the folks leading us into the future. We are our own worst enemies.

Until we show more interest in the affairs of the country, in more constructive ways. Analyse policies, engage our leaders, put them to task our folks will continue to wallow in poverty and ignorance.

For example, one of the major problems of the country like you rightly asserted is economics.It took the objectivity of a foreigner and living abroad for me to appeciate that part of the economic problems of the country has to do with globalization and issues outside our borders.Yes, our leaders have had issues too, but the world has witnessed a shift from centralised economy where the state was running some national industries to privatization.It was experienced in Britain - Thatcher privatized a lot of companies I hear, and in America, Reagan helped the shift too with his Reaganomics. The country where I live, Canada also witnessed an economy where the government downloaded responsbilities to provinces and they got out financing many social programs.Fortunately, it was easy for these folks because they already had infrastructural facilities in place.

Unfortunately, we went ahead with privatization and world bank economic policies and selling of public utilities without much debate, without assessing the merits and demerits. The quality of leadership in the legislative arm had no idea about these issues because they were "mumus," and "alright sirs" from the era of Abacha . I found it interesting that Professor Aluko mentioned Aluko Snr. mentioned we should have privatized without getting the infrastrctural facilities up and running.

In Canada, there has been debate that there is huge infrastructure deficit in the country.Recently Alberta, the province with the highest quality of life, and the richest province in Canada has only started rebuilding its infrastrctural facilities after a moratorium. And this was possible because it has fully paid his debts, and it is the only un-indebted province in this country.

I think the federal government needs to seriously address the issue of infrastructural facilities, and I think there are many ways to do this.Until we do these we will continue to have planes falling from the sky and pipelines bursting. How long were those pipelines built - what is the useful life cycle ? Could it be they have not been maintainance is part of the problem?

These are some of the issues going on - but, who is holding these folks accountable? Do we know enough about some of these issues? Do we care enough about some of these issues ? Or are we so steeped in the divisive politics of ethnicity that the politicians use to avoid the real issues, so they can't be held accountable.

The Obasanjos are past their prime , at most they can't be around for the next 15 years.We will be the ones to live with the consequences of their actions.Already, we have sent packing out of the country. The interesting thing is most folks will never end up back home, they have been lost to the west - this is reality.

If things must change, we must organize to effect change in our own little ways - or else the country is doomed.

[oluye]

@ Auspicious.
Before you direct your shotgun at me, don't you think you are reading my post out of context?
All I am saying is that criticism must be directed at the right quarters for it to be effective. Yes, leadership exists at different levels, our criticisms must reflect that too. It is pointless blaming Obasanjo when we can sue the local government, town planning authorities, NNPC or whatever organ of government is responsible. From the reactions one gets here its like the president is the one responsible for all of Nigeria's woes -to the point that the official who failed to do his work points accusing fingers at the executive arm too.
How has the legislative and judicial arms of the government responded to the situation? What about the human rights groups? Has our fiery Gani Fawehinmi sued anybody, on behalf of the dying masses?
It is pointless just bashing the executive to dissipate our own anger. Channel your vexation to more productive criticism.
What makes the US works is not merely the government, it is the fear of litigation. All the government does is to make the laws and ensure that it is upheld in court. If you go to Mcdonalds and hot coffee spills on you without a warning on the container is it the government that sues the eatery? The judiciary must not only respond when Obasanjo dribbles Atiku, it must respond to the little things that affects the citizenry directly too. Again we come to the moment of truth- area boys can't pay lawyers fees so why should lawyers defend them?

[Auspicious]

Oluye,

I don't think I read your comments out of context..but if I did, well..

The things you are pointing out - suing the local government and all - are good. But you and I know that only works in advanced societies. And who cares about local governments in Nigeria anyways?

The state governments are busy shaking-off the burdensome influence of the federal government, and the local governments are like mice trying to pull their tails from under the boots of their states' chief executives/governors.

For the most part, governance is still a joke in this land. I think the priority is to concentrate on fixing the process of governance - from the top down. The influence of responsible leadership at the top will no doubt trickle down.

But what does one do when a tired Yar'Adua is our next most-likely President? Oh, how I wish we could get a tenacious, young El-Rufai or Duke or Utomi..or at least a Buhari (yes, you heard me!) in to rule us for just a little while..

You watch..Obasanjo will moan about the disastrous loss..and call on God's name..and we'd all chorus with him. And things will go back to normal. I won't even be surprised if one more explosion happens in the last 4 days of 2006. I pray it doesn't..but it won't suprise me.

Auspicious.

[Abraxas]

Originally Posted by IgoTalk

NIGERIA PIPELINE DISASTERS
May 2006: At least 150 killed in Lagos
Dec 2004: At least 20 killed in Lagos
Sept 2004: At least 60 killed in Lagos
June 2003: At least 105 killed in Abia State
Jul 2000: At least 300 killed in Warri
Mar 2000: At least 50 killed in Abia State
Oct 1998: At least 1,000 killed in Jesse

NOW - Dec 2006 : At least 700 killed in Lagos


Courtesy BBC - and believe me when I say they are just being conservative in their analysis of these figures

Hi, folks!

Indeed, if the motivation for the extraction of petroleum products from pipelines was POLITICAL, instead of ECONOMIC, I am sure by now, there would have been several incidents of sabotage of crude oil pipelines in the Niger Delta region. In other words, these explosions are indicative of an underlying economic dysfunction.

There is a direct correlation between the frequency and magnitude of occurence of pipeline explosions and deflagrations in Nigeria on the one hand, and ACUTE SCARCITY OF PETROL nationwide, on the other. And yet, the administration of General Okiliolakan Obasanjo beats its chest, bragging profusely about fuel scarcity having been sent down the refuse heap of history by OBJ, together with the memory of General Sani Abacha!

I believe these gory tragedies would stop IF AND ONLY WHEN the supply and distribution of petroleum products are optimally managed. It is obviously beyond OBJ to actualize that wish for Nigerians, given his trauma-soaked 7 years of pipeline explosions.

Put in another way, I am convinced that the insurgents (so-called militants) of the Niger Delta region are very considerate, given the immence vulnerability of the crude oil pipeline system in that territory, and the glaring incapacity of the Nigerian security operatives to protect the petroleum industry infrastructure (oil rigs, pipelines, flow stations, storage tank farms, depots, refineries, and petrocemical plants)!

Muchas gracias.

Don Juan Carlos ABRAXAS (III)

[jojo]

i still dont understand why nigerians always experience this fuel scarcity despite the fact that we are one of oil producing countries in the world. what would have happened if we are not ? you must go through hell before getting fuel to run your car,some even sleep in petrol station for 3days before their prayers is answered. what is wrong with this so called giant of africa ? crude oil that is suppose to be a blessing to us, now it is other way round. me don tire ohhh.. may GOD comfort the families of the affected souls

[UncleTisha]

@Abraxas wrote:

There is a direct correlation between the frequency and magnitude of occurence of pipeline explosions and deflagrations in Nigeria on the one hand, and ACUTE SCARCITY OF PETROL nationwide, on the other.

I beg to disagree sir!

The last time there was a pipeline disaster/inferno in Lagos, there was no fuel scarcity. While the culpability of various agencies of government is not in doubt, we should not absolve individuals of their resposibility.

Everyone loves a fast buck and many Nigerians mainly see leaking pipelines(sabotaged or not) as an opportunity to make money. No more no less. Some of the individuals concerned were aware of the dangers, but they chose to take the risk.

I called a friend of mine who lives within 400 metres of scene of the Abule Egba incident yesterday just to confirm if he and his family were okay and he told me that:

- A local TV station (AIT) had been highlighting the problem and calling on the authority to act. the same TV bulletins were also warning citizens not to go near the pipelines. Some citizens chose to ignore these warnings.

- Policemen set up a checkpoint close to the scene and were collecting 250 naira from anyone who had a jerry can on him/her.



We should hold our leaders/rulers accountable to their statutory responsibilities. We also need to encourage ourselves and our compatriots to also take personal responsibility for our actions.
That is how we can build a nation of our dreams.

God bless Nigeria.

[lbiu]

Another sad event in Nigeria. When will we get better? Where is the promises that were to be made? Where is the infrastructure? Where is the supposed "giant of Africa"?

We are never going to get better and I blame terrible management for this. Mangement is wasting money trying to look good to the western community, but to no avail as Nigeria is still the punchline in the joke which is "devolping nations". I guess it's time for us to hide our heritage and hold onto the little respect we still have....I pray Nigeria will get better, but every year I get more doubtful it ever will.

[Abraxas]

Originally Posted by UncleTisha

@Abraxas wrote:

There is a direct correlation between the frequency and magnitude of occurence of pipeline explosions and deflagrations in Nigeria on the one hand, and ACUTE SCARCITY OF PETROL nationwide, on the other.

I beg to disagree sir!

The last time there was a pipeline disaster/inferno in Lagos, there was no fuel scarcity. While the culpability of various agencies of government is not in doubt, we should not absolve individuals of their resposibility.

Everyone loves a fast buck and many Nigerians mainly see leaking pipelines(sabotaged or not) as an opportunity to make money. No more no less. Some of the individuals concerned were aware of the dangers, but they chose to take the risk.

I called a friend of mine who lives within 400 metres of scene of the Abule Egba incident yesterday just to confirm if he and his family were okay and he told me that:

- A local TV station (AIT) had been highlighting the problem and calling on the authority to act. the same TV bulletins were also warning citizens not to go near the pipelines. Some citizens chose to ignore these warnings.

- Policemen set up a checkpoint close to the scene and were collecting 250 naira from anyone who had a jerry can on him/her.



We should hold our leaders/rulers accountable to their statutory responsibilities. We also need to encourage ourselves and our compatriots to also take personal responsibility for our actions.
That is how we can build a nation of our dreams.

God bless Nigeria.

Hi, Mr. UncleTisha!

Please, I assure you that the above statement is a truism: it is not a sweeping statement of my personal sentiment. Kindly read through it slowly, with the following key words at the back of your mind as you read through that statememnt: frequency; magnitude of occurence; and ACUTE SCARCITY OF PETROL.

And, by the way, the above BBC records of pipeline bursts and fires in Nigeria ALSO coincide with moments of ACUTE PETROL SCARCITY in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources, His Excellency, General Matiyu Aremu Okikiolakan Oluwasegun Obasanjo (GCFR), is sitting pretty, presiding over a horrendously dysfunctional ministry, without any adverse consequences whatsoever to his continued tenure either as a minister, or as the president of Nigeria.

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ga-ga-goo-ga-gaga-goo-ga!

Muchas gracias.

Don Juan Carlos ABRAXAS (III)

[Palamedes]

Following a disaster, tradition expects one to show sympathy with families (of the dead and injured) in sorrow. And I hope that I have just done so. Next come the questions, i.e., how, why etc.

If as adults, we play with matches and burn ourselves, dying as a result, ignoring the safety education our parents taught us when we were babies, must we blame others?

Watching the video, courtesy of Correct Bobo, one can see the burning fire and in proximity is a gathering of onlookers. Obviously, these onlookers think they are safe from further explosion. Are we to blame the government, when people are careless with their own lives, when people are opposed to their own self preservation? True the owners of the pipes should take some blame for the poor level of security around the pipes, but the main blame must go to those who refuse to learn from similar disasters in the past.

[Auspicious]

Interesting point up there, Palamedes. I am usually at a loss for words, when I see photos or video clips of disaster scenes from Nigeria, where people mill aimlessly around the place, calling unto "God" and doing everything but helping the situation.

You name the accidents - collapsed buildings, road accidents, plane crashes or pipeline conflagrations - you will always find people who have NO business being at the scenes of these disasters picking their way through the debris and mangled bodies (as it was during the Bellview plane crash in Lisa village, in Ogun State, where people actually stole victims' possessions!), crossing their hearts with one hand while they hold their noses from the stench of burnt human flesh with the other - hampering recovery efforts of the designated officials.

We are still very primitive in dealing with such things as disasters, when compared to how the advanced societies handle theirs. The first act of any responsible government will be to cordone that disaster area off, depending on the size of that disaster..and for safety reasons, homes within the vicinity need to be evacuated because of the threat of futher explosions. Things do NOT have to happen before those who are in charge act. They can also be proactive!!!

It is not the people's fault, it is the governments' - it is the fault of those in charge. People will always come and mill around these sites and catch a glimpse of roasted bodies of men, women and children..(!!!). Where is the Police for goodness sake? Oh, I forget; they are busy protecting the powers-that-be around the place.

The sad thing is, the situation will remain the same - as long as we keep getting 'old-school' leaders of the Obasanjo, Yar'Adua and even Atiku type. Give me an exposed and refined Pat Utomi or Donald Duke, who will bring their bright, youthful intelligence into managing our affairs. Enough of these farmers, 'new-monies' and their little-exposed friends!

Auspicious.

[Free Publius]

Dear Villagers,

There are signs around the pipelines warning that people from trespassing, just as there are signs around Aso Rock warning people from trespassing. Yet we all know no one dares trepass on Aso Rock grounds. Why? Because it's important for the politicians to secure Aso Rock but not the pipelines. It's that simple.

In fact, it is a daily miracle that worse disasters dont occur daily in Nigeria. Pick any major city and you're likely to find open electric transformer boxes (with live currents) in open view and easy access. Most of these death traps dont even have signs any warnings. How many have died from these? Only God knows.

Some Villagers ask, innocently, what do private citizens do to prevent these incessant accidents? Well, for one, we surrendered our rights to the government in exchange for the government to protect us all - that is the very essence and the bedrock of democracy -otherwise, we'd all be out there using self-help (aka anarchy). Unfortunately, the people that we've entrusted these responsibilities to have converted these trusts into means to ONLY protect and help themselves.

It is pathetically sad to see these endless, meaningless loss of lives. When our own leaders treat us the way they do, why should other nationalities respect us or treat us as equal human beings? Or do you think airlliners would start dropping out of the skies and the Aviation Minister would proclaim that asking him to prevent the accidents is expecting him to possess spritual powers? The rest of the world must laugh at us in their private moments - and deservedly so!

When the average white person in New York or Washington DC see Paul Adujie (aka I Love Nigeria) and refuse to see a full human being or accord him the full rights usual to similarly situated person, does Paul blame himself for that experience? Does he realize that his rabid and irrational knee-jerk defense of OBJ's untenable and illegal behavior contribute to the way the rest of the world mock him and the rest of us?

OBJ has again picked his successor; a governor who will reportedly need continuous dialysis treatment. This man must fly out of Nigeria for each treatment. Why? Because the people in those destination countries are somehow blessed with natural abilities superior to ours? Where is the shame? These group of obese, naked men parading themselves in the marketplace for all to jeer! Disgusting, each and everyone of them!

Free Publius

[I Love Nigeria]

Hundreds die in Lagos pipeline fire

It's our Christmas bonus, say victims

How victims chased away council chief, policemen

Water shortage delays fire fighters

By Chuka Nnabuife, Kayode Ogunbunmi and Yetunde Ebosele

BY a twisted logic, it was meant to be their pound of flesh against a state that had turned Yuletide into a dull season. But an attempt by some hundreds of Lagos residents to scoop fuel from a vandalised pipeline took not only their flesh, but also their lives.

For want of a name, the excited crowd of hustlers, whose ages ranged from five to 60, christened the fuel: Christmas bonus.

The fuel gushed out of the pipeline at Segun Akinola Street, Awori Bus Stop at the Abule Egba area of the state.

Earlier, residents and landlords including a pastor and some elders went to the group but they chorused that the petrol spillage was their "Christmas bonus" from a country that gave them fuel scarcity for the Yuletide.

Eventually, that Christmas present turned out to be the source of mass death as the celebration turned horrible for not only the hustlers but the entire inhabitants of Awori area.

Hundreds of persons were burnt to death as many more were rushed to hospital for treatment following several degrees of burn. Burnt also were about 40 vehicles, a dozen homes, including a mosque and two churches as well as uncountable business ventures, comprising auto mechanic workshops, a saw mill and network of timber shop.

The explosion also affected power supply around the area and beyond as a high tension electricity line also passed through the pipeline route.

A witness disclosed that an unidentified group had vandalised a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline containing premium motor spirit (petrol) at about 10.00p.m. on Christmas day. And following the existing fuel scarcity, several persons including youths, women and children rushed in with receptacles to scoop the content of the pipe for hoarding and sale.

Residents, sensing danger, alerted the police and NNPC to the punctured pipeline and kept over-night watch. Some of them went to inform those scooping petrol of the danger in the act. Early morning television and radio broadcast announced the incident but the activity continued.

At some minutes before 9.00a.m., residents of the area spanning through Segun Akinola, Shobowale and adjoining streets heard an explosion and fire ensued from the ruptured pipe.

According to Dr. Femi Osonyitolu, an official of the Lagos State Emergency Services, ambulances were only able to evacuate 45 persons.

"We got here around 9.00a.m. when we were informed. As you can see, the fire gut many people and it covered a wide place. We found at least 45 people dead. But we cannot ascertain the number of casualties because there are many more people trapped and the rescue is still going on," Osonyitolu told The Guardian.

Following the extent of casualty, the Lagos State Emergency Services team and the Red Cross, which arrived at the location earlier, called for more assistance.

"We had to inform the rescue services of NNPC and the federal fire service," Osonyitolu disclosed.

Similarly, the Lagos State Fire Service team, which only arrived at 10.05 a.m., had to call for the assistance of the NNPC Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service.

As residents recounted, following information of the pipe burst, a group of persons who displayed identity cards as officials of the Pipelines Products Marketing Company (PPMC) arrived at around 7.00 a.m to inspect the site with some police officers. They later left after reportedly informing their head office of the need to cut off fuel supply to the pipeline. That did not happen when the pipeline erupted into flames. Fire was still burning by mid-day.

The first set of Lagos State fire fighters to arrive at the scene at 10.05 a.m. did not have enough water. Residents brought two additional tankers and further sent buckets and jerry-cans of water. That was not enough until about 11.00 a.m when some water tankers belonging to Julius Berger Construction Company started arriving at the area.

Initial police efforts to control the scene of vandalism were also unsuccessful. Out numbered by the thousands of people who swarmed the area to scoop fuel, the policemen could only appeal to the fuel thieves not to use metal containers in their operation so as to reduce the possibility of its sparking off fire.

Moruf Adefolabi, chairman of Ojokoro Local Council Development Area disclosed that he used his personal car to bring in the first set of policemen to the scene at about 6.00 a.m.

"The policemen could not do anything to stop the theft because the people were too many. They even threatened to attack us with bottles and stones if we attempted to stop them," he said.

Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Adebayo, who visited the location at about 10.00a.m., also noted that the overwhelming crowd could not help police and rescue work.

"The people claim police did not do anything. Would police have shot at people who did not want to leave the place where they were scooping fuel, and then the same people would say police caused the fire? Even now, the number of people here are not helping the rescue operation. People are just too many," the police boss said.

Daniel Umoh, head of the 35-member Red Cross team at the site of the incident, said the trouble started around 4.30 a.m. He said about 14 dead bodies had been taken to the mortuary by his team, while hundreds of the wounded had been taken to the hospitals as well.

"As I am talking, several of those trapped are still being rescued. We are even going from house to house to carry many of those wounded to the hospital," he said.

About six houses and the whole timber market were burnt and that was where most of those burnt were trapped.

The NNPC officials were still on their phones while the police and PPMC officials alleged that two trucks, escorted by armed men in police uniform, loaded fuel from the scene yesterday morning.

The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Funsho Kupolokun, who arrived at the scene at about 12.45p.m., described the incident as unfortunate. He said that his men needed a minimum of three days to put out the fire. Kupolokun said that the NNPC was aware of such unscrupulous acts in the area and had always deployed uniformed men to guard the place. But he noted that the area could not be guarded 24 hours.

However, Dr. Rahman Mudashiru of Hankad Hospital and Maternity Home, Abule Egba, said about 14 victims were brought to his hospital and he referred five to the General Hospital because they had 100 per cent burns. The others, he said, had between 50 and 80 per cent.

Meanwhile, the NNPC earlier yesterday said it had pumped about five million litres of petrol from its Atlas Cove jetty to Mosimi to provide respite for the current fuel scarcity in the country.

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by Free Publius

When our own leaders treat us the way they do, why should other nationalities respect us or treat us as equal human beings?

Good Question!

[skybaba]

Originally Posted by Palamedes

If as adults, we play with matches and burn ourselves, dying as a result, ignoring the safety education our parents taught us when we were babies, must we blame others?

Palamedes,

Have you heard of the saying "Dead Men don't Talk"?
If dead men could talk, these victims may probably have been able to answer your question.
I'm sure most of them were very poor and may not have been able to feed themselves.

I know Petrol-Thieves would also have been at the scene, because according to one of the newspaper reports, two (2) Petrol tankers were loaded from the scene earlier on.

All these people would have been aware of the repercussions of what they were doing, but for the "HOPE" of making some money from the leak, they would have ignored all warnings and still headed for the disaster that happened.

As Abraxas pointed out,

Originally Posted by Abraxas

In other words, these explosions are indicative of an underlying economic dysfunction.
[B]

As Abraxas pointed out again,

Originally Posted by Abraxas

There is a direct correlation between the frequency and magnitude of occurence of pipeline explosions and deflagrations in Nigeria on the one hand, and ACUTE SCARCITY OF PETROL nationwide, on the other.[B]

Lastly, as pointed out in UncleTisha's post, our policemen were collecting 250 naira from people with Jery-cans in that area.

Originally Posted by UncleTisha

- Policemen set up a checkpoint close to the scene and were collecting 250 naira from anyone who had a jerry can on him/her.

I know that not all Nigerians can be rich, but until we nip poverty in the bud, people would be willing to risk their lives at the slightest thought of "bettering" their situation..........who knows, one of the victims may have thought to himself "If only I could get one 50 litre jerry-can of petrol (50 X 250 naira = 12,500 naira), then settle the police-men 250 naira (1 Litre), I can have about 12,000 naira to spend with my family for the Christmas/New Year Celebration".........but I guess he didn't make it.


Happy New Year in Advance everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Long Live the Nigerian Village Square
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria
God Bless You ALL

[nero africanus]

Everyone loves a fast buck and many Nigerians mainly see leaking pipelines(sabotaged or not) as an opportunity to make money. No more no less. Some of the individuals concerned were aware of the dangers, but they chose to take the risk.

There is acute unemployment which leads to poverty, who has ever been jailed for breaking pipelines. The government had done nothing to alleviate poverty we need a massive industrialization to create jobs until then will people stop busting pipelines.

[I Love Nigeria]

LAGOS PIPELINE TRAGEDY: How PHCN chief died scooping fuel - UN blames Nigerian govt for pipeline explosions
Supo Atobatele, Olalekan Olabulo, Martin Ayankola and Kunle Awosiyan, Lagos - 28.12.2006

A top management staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) said to be scooping fuel from the damaged pipeline in Abule Egba, Lagos State, was among the hundreds of people that died in Tuesday’s pipeline explosion, the Nigerian Tribune gathered. The death of the PHCN senior official came on the heels of reports that before the explosion, some oil thieves, backed by armed men, had besieged the place around 1.00 a.m. during which they loaded more than 15 trucks and left the vandalised pipeline open, leading to spillage into the community.

The PHCN chief, who hailed from Delta State, was said to have died while scooping fuel from the damaged pipeline. The man, who resided close to the spot of the damaged pipeline, was said to have earlier warned the community about the impending doom when he noticed the spillage. But he was said to have later joined the crowd to scoop fuel for his two cars. According to his neighbours, the man was reported to have successfully scooped fuel into two jerrycans and was on the third mission when he was caught up in the inferno.


His wife raised alarm when her husband had not returned home at nightfall, but nobody was ready to tell her that her husband had been at the scene scooping fuel. Meanwhile, most victims of the oil pipeline blaze received a mass burial early Wednesday a couple of kilometres away from the site of the fire, a Nigerian Red Cross official said. “Two hundred and thirty-eight bodies were buried overnight”, Ige Oladimeji of the Lagos State Red Cross said while talking to an international news agency on Wednesday afternoon, adding that a second mass burial would be organised for the remainder whose bodies were still in various hospitals and clinic morgues.


“The 238 were not buried in a cemetery but on land given by a local community,” Oladimeji said. Nigerian Red Cross Executive Secretary, Abiodun Orebiyi, said 269 people died in Tuesday’s fire and added that scores of others had been injured. “As of 6:00 pm yesterday (Wednesday) we counted one by one 269 bodies while 65 others were taken to hospital,” Orebiyi said. The overwhelming majority of those who died were charred beyond recognition. Health workers, in an attempt to avoid the spread of disease, started moving the dead from the site of the blaze on Tuesday evening, Red Cross officials said.


Orebiyi warned that the casualty figures could still rise. “The exact figure may not be completely known as some may still be in hiding and some others may die from their injuries,” he said. Meanwhile, residents of the area have begun to pack out for fear of the resurgence of the fire outbreak which some of them claimed has not been totally put out. The residents were seen on Wednesday afternoon moving their belongings out of the area they described as ‘vulnerable”.


Some of the residents who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune expressed fears that the oil thieves might return to the area. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Edmund Daukoru, who on Wednesday afternoon visited the site of the incident, described the oil thieves as ‘greedy and unpatriotic’. The minister also commended the community for their efforts and urged them to support the various efforts of government at all levels to ensure that pipelines were well protected. He blamed the high casualty figures on the scarcity of petroleum products in the country.


The Inspector General of Police, Mr Sunday Ehindero, who also visited the venue of the incident, blamed it on the attitude of some Nigerians. In another development, one of the victims of the Lagos pipeline fire, Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye, 30, who was a carpenter, was at the sawmill to carry the planks he had bought the previous day when the explosion occurred. His mother, Mrs. Bolanle Oladunjoye, disclosed this to the Nigerian Tribune at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday.


She said that sympathisers at the scene of the event brought Tunde home. According to her, Tunde had left his No. 31, Adeaga Street home to carry the planks, which he wanted to use to make some furniture for a customer when he was caught in the inferno. She said Tunde was severely burnt and that the family initially took him to LASUTH where he was referred to Isolo general hospital due to congestion at LASUTH. However, Tunde was later referred again to LASUTH for intensive care.


Mrs. Oladunjoye said that Tunde was a quiet young man who could never have participated in the scooping of fuel, which led to the incident. “Tunde is a quiet boy among my children. He has never involved himself in any nefarious activity and he is always found in his workshop at Adeaga Street. All the residents of the street can testify to this,” she said. Mrs. Oladunjoye, who was at the Burns and Emergency Response Unit of LASUTH when the Nigerian Tribune met her with Tunde’s siblings, said that Tunde’s customer had come Wednesday morning to ask for his furniture work but learnt that Tunde was involved in the accident.


The mother of another victim, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that she could not identify her son because he was badly burnt. According to her, her son was still in a critical condition when she got to LASUTH. However, she could not tell how her son got involved in the disaster. A brother of another victim told the Nigerian Tribune that Alimi, the victim, was going home when he got trapped in the fire. He said that his younger brother was always passing through Segun Akinnola Street, adjacent to the spot of the incident.


He stated that Alimi’s condition was improving and that the family was praying hard for the boy’s survival. Meanwhile a source said that eight of the victims rushed to LASUTH had died and their bodies had been deposited at the hospital’s mortuary. The United Nations has condemned the Nigerian government for its fuel supply management which it said led to yesterday’s pipeline explosion in Lagos, Empowered Newswire has reported.


A statement from the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, called for a review of Nigeria’s fuel management supply “including a thorough regional review of risks that could lead to other environmental or technological disasters in West Africa.” The UN statement said the UN Secretary-General “is deeply saddened at the deaths of hundreds of people as a result of the explosion of a fuel pipeline in Abule Egba district of Lagos, Nigeria. “He extends his deepest condolences to the government, the bereaved families and to all others affected by this disaster.”


But in an apparent diplomatic knock, the UN statement added that “the theft of fuel from Nigerian pipelines has become a frequent occurrence, often with tragic consequences.” The UN also offered to help Nigeria in such an endeavour and also in the process of disaster response. According to the statement, “The United Nations stands ready to assist in this endeavour, and to help in assessing current gaps in risk mapping and disaster response in the region. “


All through Christmas/Boxing Day, TV stations in the US started ran reports on the explosion. AP reports quoted the Nigerian Red Cross of yet another pipeline explosion raising international concerns about the Nigerian government’s management of its petroleum resources

[EezeeBee]

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Edmund Daukoru, who on Wednesday afternoon visited the site of the incident, described the oil thieves as ‘greedy and unpatriotic’.

Now a statement like the one I've quoted above from a brain-dead individual like 'Dr' Edmund Daukoru is an example of why many of Nigerias 'rulers' should be executed.

It is now he will call the people 'oil thieves' abi? Has he looked at himself (coming from the Niger Delta as he does) and looked at the Minister of Oil in Nigeria (Obasanjo) to see where the real 'oil thieves' reside?

What a crock! What an m o r o n!! When someone ostensibly educated up to the Ph.D level opens his dirty mouth and makes a statement about 'greed and lack of patriotism' in response to this kind of poverty-induced TRAGEDY that has CONTINUED to occur under the watch of the government he serves in (in a portfolio that should be his) instead of RESIGNING his position, then it is truly time to go and take over government.

I CANNOT sit here, read/listen to these kinds of inanities emerging from ill-formed pie holes of such 'leaders' anymore.

[Palamedes]

Ref skybaba :

Have you heard of the saying "Dead Men don't Talk"?...I know Petrol-Thieves would also have been at the scene…,All these people would have been aware of the repercussions of what they were doing…,they would have ignored all warnings and still headed for the disaster that happened.

Sir, what then is your point?