Large quantity of petroleum products that were not properly cleaned up after the Ijegun pipeline rupture on May 15, 2008 have found its way into water-bearing wells used by residents of the community and may soon lead to massive explosions and loss of lives.
ERA/FoEN monitors that visited Ijegun, located in Ikotun Local Government of Lagos State on Sunday September 13, 2009 observed that virtually all wells within the axis of the explosion and 14 streets away had large deposits of petrol that could be ignited by the strike of a match.
On May 15, 2008 an earthmover belonging to Hitech, a company constructing the Ijegun-Isolo-Jakande Estate road, slated for dualisation by the Lagos government, ruptured a pipeline which was not properly buried by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. The incident led to the death of 40 people, mostly school pupils of a nearby primary school. More than 15 homes, 20 vehicles and property running into millions of naira were also incinerated.
ERA/FoEN recommends the NNPC immediately carry out a comprehensive environmental audit of the entire Ijegun Community in line with international best practice, mop up of petroleum products in the wells and compensation of the community people.
ERA/FoEN monitors that visited Ijegun, located in Ikotun Local Government of Lagos State on Sunday September 13, 2009 observed that virtually all wells within the axis of the explosion and 14 streets away had large deposits of petrol that could be ignited by the strike of a match.
On May 15, 2008 an earthmover belonging to Hitech, a company constructing the Ijegun-Isolo-Jakande Estate road, slated for dualisation by the Lagos government, ruptured a pipeline which was not properly buried by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. The incident led to the death of 40 people, mostly school pupils of a nearby primary school. More than 15 homes, 20 vehicles and property running into millions of naira were also incinerated.
ERA/FoEN recommends the NNPC immediately carry out a comprehensive environmental audit of the entire Ijegun Community in line with international best practice, mop up of petroleum products in the wells and compensation of the community people.