The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has called on members of the public to discountenance reports of a possible fire outbreak from a vandalized point on its pipeline at Aboru Canal in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, saying that the there is no such hazard as the line in question has since been shut down for repairs and presently contains only water.
Residents of Ayobo area of Lagos State had earlier raised the alarm over fuel spillage following a damaged pipeline in the area belonging to NNPC.
For fear of a possible explosion, they had raised the alarm with claims that contents from the leaking pipe from Pipeline Road, Ayobo, Ipaja have spilled to nearby communities including Oju Emi, Ola mummy, Aboru, and Agbado Oke-Odo.
The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Dr. Kennie Obateru, explained in a statement to SlyNews that the Atlas Cove – Mosimi stretch of the System 2B Pipeline was shut down on June 25, 2020, to enable comprehensive maintenance of some segments of the pipeline.
Obateru said the repair work was on the last stage of completion which involves hydro-testing – a process of pumping of water through the entire pipeline for integrity test and leak detection – to ascertain availability of the pipeline for pumping products.
He noted that following a report from the dedicated patrol team about a leakage at a point in the Aboru Canal this morning, water pumping was suspended immediately at 09:27hrs to enable the maintenance team effect necessary repairs.
Obateru urged residents of the affected community to remain calm as there is no possibility of a fire erupting from the leakage point.
