By ALBERT AKPOR

In October 17, 1998, Idjerhe community in Jesse, Delta state was engulfed in devastating flames occasioned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline explosion.

During the tragedy that followed, an estimated number of over 500 people out of the 7,000 population of the community; including children were roasted beyond recognition.

L-R *Deacon Adebayo, President of Diamond Estate Residents Association., *NNPC Boss, Mr. Austin Olusegun Oniwon. and *Mrs. Olutayo, whose 19 months-old baby is currently on admission

Prior to the national disaster, there were public outcry over impending danger from fuel leakages as a result of vandalized pipes by vandals in the community and adjoining communities.

It was not clear whether management of the NNPC took prompt and drastic action to arrest the situation before the expected occurred. Curiously, the same echoes of mass destruction is presently sounding; perhaps unheeded in Diamond Estate, Lagos.

Built five years ago by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and strategically located along the Lagos State University (LASU), Igando road, Idimu, Diamond Estate has remained a cynosure and luxury of anyone who could afford a plot therein.

Whereas, the explosion at Jesse fire occurred in a site about 1.125 kilometers from the community, the looming one in Diamond Estate might just happen right in the estate.

However, just three years ago, residents started perceiving some smell akin to that of petroleum products. Their curiosity was confirmed moments after when their boreholes and water wells became unmistakably filled with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS); otherwise known as petrol.

Immediately this was noticed, officials of NNPC were invited. They reportedly went round their installation, effected a few repairs and left. However, no sooner they left than an explosion occurred at the back of the estate.

But for the prompt arrival to the scene of a combined team of fire fighters from both the state and federal fire service, the story would have been different today.

Meanwhile, the story is not any different in the estate today compared to the earlier fears expressed three years ago. In fact, the situation has assumed a fever-pitch as children are daily falling sick as a result of inhalation of poisonous substances into their fragile lungs.

Boreholes and water-wells have been permanently shut because of the spillage. Residents now buy water for domestic use. Perhaps, most hit is Mrs Olatayo and her 19 -month -old baby boy, David. Her water-well at the Plot 2, Road 20 residence has been shut for long.

The generator house has not been opened for the past two years and therefore, she cannot not use any other means of light other than that provided by the epileptic NEPA. Baby David has remained a frequent visitor to the hospital as a result of the inhaled poisonous substance.

Apparently irked by the prevailing circumstance, president of the resident association, Deacon Samson Adebayo, told Crime Guard it was high time management of NNPC and, of course, President Jonathan found a lasting solution to the impending danger.

According to him, “This is the second time we are shouting out through the press since we noticed fuel leakage in our boreholes and wells. We are constantly making noise and nobody seems to be listening or taking us seriously.

Our fears in early 2010, came on December 16 and 17, 2010 when there was fire outbreak. And when the fire came, it was serious. We have been writing letters and complaining to NNPC both in Lagos and Abuja without noticeable solution.

When the fire which raged for two consecutive days was eventually put off, officials of NNPC came because of the public outcry on pages of newspapers and TV, and did some camouflage work, did some trenches at the back of the estate.

But the problem still persists, the fuel is still there. The more they dug, the more fuel came gushing out from the ground. And because they noticed that our water has been contaminated, they promised to build for us an industrial borehole and up till date, nothing has been done.

Also, they promised to relocate residents of most of the houses affected, but those promises are just paper tiger. Now, we are in the raining season and this time, the accumulated water in the ground will push up the fuel and when you wake up early in the morning, you will perceive the smell of fuel everywhere and that is dangerous to our health.

Experts say we are potential cancer patients. You can see that we are not only contending with impending fire outbreak but cancer of the lungs.”

Continuing, Deacon Adebayo said they have made frantic efforts to get the attention of the management of NNPC without success and therefore, contemplating a court action to seek for N20billion damages.

He said, “Like I told you, after the December fire outbreak, officials of NNPC came and they saw for themselves and even officials of FHA, including the Managing Director, came also and we took them round the estate.

We even went to Abuja where we met with Dr. Livi Ajuonuma following which their officials came again to look for the source of the leakages. But as I speak to you now, NNPC has not been able to locate the source of the problem.

And when they came, they started mopping the fuel from the boreholes. The more they mopped, the more fuel came out. If they take away say 10 trucks, before they come back the next day, the boreholes would be full again.

So that is why we are crying out. All they are doing is trial and error. They have not really discovered the source of the problem.

They said they have checked all their pipes that passed through the estate and there is none leaking. So the question is, where is the fuel coming from? We want NNPC to intensify efforts to locate the source of leakage; because definitely, there is a source through which the fuel is coming from.

It could not have been coming from Heaven. Residents here spend thousands of naira to get portable water.

As it is now, we are demanding N20billion from NNPC because our children daily go to hospital and the diagnosis has been that they inhale poisonous substance into their lungs. They are coughing as a result.

The group General Manager, Public Affairs division of NNPC, Dr. Livi Ajuonuma when contacted said management was aware of the problem residents of the estate iare facing, adding that they are doing all with a view to avert the impending danger as well as alleviating their sufferings.

He said, “When the issue started, I personally visited the estate and saw things for myself. We carried out some excavations and repair works so that there would be no more leakages.

We have even promised to sink industrial boreholes for them and relocate some of them whose residence was affected. And all these we are doing; is just that they are not patient.

We are begging them to be patient with us because we have not forgotten them; how can? We even have some of our allied staff living in that estate; so we are doing something, honestly.”