AbdulRazaq commiserates with Alagbado residents over fuel tanker fire incident

BY KEHINDE AKINPELU

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has commiserated with residents of Alagbado, a suburb of the capital city, Ilorin, on the late night fire outbreak at a petrol station.

Driving himself alongside two security operatives, the governor was one of the earliest sympathisers to arrive at the scene, as news emerged of the explosion around 10p.m. local time on Saturday.

He arrived shortly after the state firefighters had put out the inferno, calling for calm and commending the operatives for their prompt response and professionalism.

“Our hearts are with the occupiers of the lone house that got burnt and owners of the petrol station from where the fire started. We share in their pains and losses at this time,” according to a Government House statement on Sunday morning.

“Similarly, I commend operatives of the state fire service, who responded quickly to the distress calls and were able to curtail and minimise the impacts of the fire. We are truly proud of what they did, and will continue to support them as we have been doing over the last three years.

“We thank Almighty God for His mercies, especially that no life was lost in the unfortunate incident. Regardless, the incident (just like avoidable flooding and some other occurrences often caused by poor planning), again, justifies our administration’s decision to draw up a new master plan for the state, beginning from the capital city. It is in our enlightened interest as a people to live sustainably to avoid unintended harm to ourselves. Once again, we send our sympathies to the victims and pray to God to grant them comfort.”

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Pandemonium had broken out on Saturday night in Alagbado area, as a petrol tanker caught fire at MM Filling Station, Ayegbami junction, Sobi Specialist Hospital Road.

Residents of Alagbado, Okelele, Ayegbami, Dada and Oloje, as well as adjoining communities, abandoned their houses and scampered to safety as the huge smoke from the fire suggested that the fire might reach their homes.

The state governor, AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq, visited the scene of the incident at about 11.45pm to assess the situation of things and commiserated with the victims and residents of the area.

Our Correspondent gathered that the incident occurred at about 10pm when a petroleum tanker was discharging fuel at MM filling station.

Daily times was one of those that drew the attention of the Spokesman of the state Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, to the incident and the agency responded to the distress call in good time.

The firemen had a hectic time putting out the fire, but their quick response was applauded by the people who gathered from far and near to solidarise with those who reside in the vicinity of the scene of the fire outbreak.

The Special Adviser on Strategy to Kwara State Governor, Alh Saadu Salahu, whose private residence is located behind the filling station, expressed his appreciation to the state government and the firemen for their prompt intervention.

Salahu, whose family was evacuated by neighbours, thanked security operatives and his private guard for their prompt response.