Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has explained the cause of the inferno that gutted one of its retail stations in Ogba, Lagos on Monday, April 27.
The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC, Mr Kennie Obateru, disclosed in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday that the fire was caused by an underground tank.
He said officials of the petrol station, however, swiftly extinguished the inferno without any loss of life.
The unfortunate incident occurred on Monday when a tanker came to dispense fuel at the filling station. During the fire, some properties were destroyed, including nearby houses and six vehicles at a nearby car lot.
Quoting the Managing Director of the NNPC Retail Limited, a subsidiary of the corporation, Mr Billy Okoye, sympathized with Taibod Petroleum Limited, the affiliate company, over the unfortunate incident.
He appreciated the Federal Fire Service, NNPC fire fighters from the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) and other well-meaning Nigerians that supported in putting out the fire.
Mr Okoye dismissed the insinuation that the fire was caused by a truck that was discharging petroleum products at the scene of the incident, adding that NNPC Retail stations attendants are well briefed.
“In all our stations, safety is very important and we have our Health Safety teams that go round to ensure that these safety standards are adhered to strictly. These safety teams visit these stations routinely to educate and enlighten these affiliate station owners on the need for them to uphold safety procedures.
“Every station must hold fire drills every month and all staff of the stations are mandated to participate in these drills and trained on handling of trucks and products discharge procedures,” he said.
He assured that all stations under the brand name of NNPC Retail Limited operate under very high safety standards as endorsed by the Federal Fire Service and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
“The management of the company ensures that all stations under her watch maintain required safety standard in order to curtail incidences of fire outbreaks as well as other health and safety hazards,” he said.
He also stated that NNPC Retail Limited has more than 600 stations across the country, adding that as the nation prepares for the relaxation of the presidential lockdown directives from next week, the NNPC retail stations have over 400 trucks laden with petroleum products waiting to discharge at various stations.
