Agbaje laments over Lagos fire

GOVERNORSHIP candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, Mr Jimi Agbaje, has on Wednesday expressed sadness over the early morning inferno that gutted over 100 houses and shops as well as a number of vehicles in the Abule-Egba area of the state after a pipeline explosion.

Agbaje’s reaction was contained in a statement issued by his campaign’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Felix Oboagwina.

The PDP flag-bearer, while lamenting the loss, said it was regretful that the area had become prone to fire disasters resulting from the activities of pipeline vandals who had turned stealing of petroleum products into a thriving business.

He, however, expressed gratitude to God that no life was lost, adding: “Fortunately no life was lost in this heartbreaking fire incident.”

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Speaking further, Agbaje urged the state government to put in place emergency plans to ensure the accommodation and rehabilitation of those who lost personal property and dwellings to the fire incident, which residents blamed on the activities of vandals illegally syphoning petroleum products from the pipeline running through the community.

According to him, security agents needed to be on top of their game to apprehend pipeline vandals and curb the activities of petroleum thieves, even as he also urged the people to be their own first line of security by promptly reporting any illegal activities along the pipeline.

Recalling that such incidents had occurred in the community in 2006 after earlier incidents, Agbaje said the Lagos State government and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) must evolve a permanent solution to the incidence of pipeline vandalism and explosion in the State.