Senate called on the Federal government of Nigeria, to conjunction with National assembly to donate N2 Billion for emergency relief fund to victims of Sunday morning explosion that killed 17 people.
Senator Adeola Solomon cited Orders 42 & 52 and moved a motion on the urgent need to investigate the explosion in Abule-Ado, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government of Lagos State, resulting in loss of lives and massive destruction of properties.
“I think it is occurring too often and we begin to wonder why. I want to console the family of those that have lost their loved ones in this incident and also want to urge the federal government to come to our aid at this time. We will really appreciate whatever assistance we can get; financially and morally.”- Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
“I commiserate with my colleague, Senator Solomon who is representing that particular community in the Senate. I also commiserate with the state government and the victims. This is one tragedy too many. As we speak we are yet to know the cause of this inferno. This motion will unearth so many of the details about why this is happening very frequently in that part of the country. We need to know the depth of these pipes and how they have been laid.”- Senator James Manager.
“These pipelines were laid 30 years ago and some of them have lived their age. The amount of stealing from the pipelines is so heavy. I think we need to encourage NSCDC to do more. I sympathize with my colleague that brought the motion and I sympathize also with the government of Lagos State.”- Senator George Sekibo.
“This thing is happening so many times and there is a need to look at possible reasons why this is happening. I think the NNPC should enforce the right of way that has been described by law. I commiserate with not only the Lagos State Government but Nigerians who are residing there.”- Senator Boroffice Ajayi.
“The motion is calling for an investigation to unravel the cause of this sad event. A lot of people have died and lost their valuables. It is not good for this kind of thing to continue. We should act in the manner that we are supposed to.”- Senator Barau Jibrin.
“In my own opinion, these disasters are not yet over. We should own it. NNPC, security agencies need to do more. What we have seen in Ijegun clearly shows that we are not yet serious. Vehicles go on top of these pipes and they are in the middle of a community where there are so many inhabitants. NNPC must go back to the drawing board to relocate these pipelines. I think the Senate should call on NNPC to be up and doing in respect of our pipelines and NEMA should see how they can go and compensate these people.”- Senator Sani Musa.
“We have lamented enough, everyday we lament especially on this issue of explosions and fire outbreak due to pipeline, tanker or gas explosion. The earlier we start tackling this issue the better for us. Let NNPC do the needful by either relocating these pipelines or punish their staff that have failed in their duties. Let the government tackle this issue immediately by demolishing illegal structures not just in Lagos but across the states of the federation.”- Senator Sam Egwu.
“This is not just about Lagos State alone, this one that happened is different. This is purely an accident that has now exposed the level at which we take security as it concerns where our pipe passes through. The investigation should be more of those things that we have talked about.”- Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
Senate resolved to:
- Observe a minute silence in honour of innocent Nigerians that lost their lives in the unfortunate national tragedy;
- Send a high power delegation to Lagos and write a letter of condolence to the people and government of Lagos State;
- Direct Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to immediately send relief materials to affected victims and offset medical bills of hospitalized victims;
- Urge the Federal Government and members of the National Assembly to donate to the N2 Billion “Abule-Ado Emergency Relief Fund.”;
- Direct the Senate Committees on Petroleum Downstream, Gas resources and Petroleum Upstream to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the explosion with a view to prevent reoccurrence, and proffer lasting solutions and report back to the Senate in two weeks.;
- All recommendations gotten from the investigation on the explosions that happened in Rivers and Lagos State should be implemented.; and
- Direct the NNPC to enforce the rule of right of way and those who are building within there should be declared as irregular settlers.
“I want to sympathize on behalf of all of us with the government and people of Lagos State. Similar thing happened sometime in October and we took resolutions here. I want to advise the executive arm of government that when we take resolutions like this we take them with all seriousness and they mean a lot to Nigerians. It is not good for us to be talking about the same thing. The executive should implement the resolutions we passed in November regarding the explosion that happened.”-Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON.
“I also want to advise that when our trucks carry loads they should take those loads within the confines that the law allows. We need to really go back to insisting on trucks to carry loads within the weight that is allowed. I also want to advise our town planners not to approve buildings close to pipelines. I think there is need for enforcement of town and urban planning designs by our authorities. May the good Lord rest the souls of those who lost their lives in this incident.”- Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON.
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