By Albert Akpor

LAGOS—A repeat of the October 18, 1998 pipeline explosion in Jesse community in Delta State, which claimed thousands of lives, is currently looming at Diamond Estate along LASU\Igando road, Lagos following spillage of fuel from  a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, pipeline.

Residents of the estate are already fleeing en masse while those who could muster enough courage to remain are threading with caution as  wells and boreholes  in the area are now filled with fuel, otherwise known as Premium Motor Spirit, PMS.

Residents scoop fuel

According to sources some unscrupulous elements in the area are cashing in on the situation to brazenly scoop the product for ready buyers to the consternation of residents.  But some resident said they had informed officials of NNPC of the development, adding that the  NNPC officials  said there was nothing they could do about it.

A resident, Mr. Patrick Zegar, who claimed to be the vice president of the resident association, said the lives of all the resident and the adjoining neighborhood are  in danger because, according to him, “anything can happen any time.”

NNPC invited

He said: “This problem started about five years ago when we started noticing some spillage and contamination in the water we fetch from our wells and boreholes.  We quickly informed officials of NNPC to come and do something about it.

“I think they came and carried out some repairs of their pipelines. But shortly after, it became apparent that the spillage has gone beyond restriction.  We ran to them again, but this time they said it will take about 30 years for the product to completely dry off from the grounds.”

Continuing, Mr. Zegar said, “as we speak, all the wells,  boreholes and even gutters are full of the spilled product.  Some people are now making quick money from it and this is dangerous.

“We want the NNPC officials to quickly come and do something about this before we experience a repeat of what happened in Jess community in Delta State some years back.”