Community urges Lagos to ensure financial relief gets to explosion victims
The indigenes of Soba, an autonomous community in Amuwo -Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos state ravaged by an explosion on March 15, have urged the state government to ensure that the financial relief granted by Governor Babajide Sanwo – Olu, reach victims of the explosion.
The indigenes who spoke through their traditional ruler, Chief Jimoh Agbebeji, also called on the state government to investigate the actual cause of the blast which they termed “an act of terrorism.”
Agbebeji, who also faulted the claim by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that the blast was a gas explosion, maintained that the agency must not give misleading information, but be true to the people.
Speaking during a press conference recently in Lagos, the traditional ruler, pleaded with the federal government, private organisations and other well -meaning Nigerians to support the state government in bringing succour to victims of the explosion.
He said: “By our assessment and observation, we are certain that the cause of the blast is an act of terrorism. Therefore, the public declaration of NNPC Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari, and NNPC spokesperson, Dr. Jennie Obateru that the blast was caused by gas vandalization is totally false, meant to suppress the genuine fact and mislead the people.
“We therefore, humbly request that the Lagos state government under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo – Olu, should send a high power fact-finding delegation to our community to x-ray and investigate the remote and root causes of the blast in the community, and avert future occurrence.
“The financial relief granted by the governor, should reach the victims and we also call on President Muhammadu Buhari, other prominent Lagosians and our country Nigeria, to support Lagos state in giving succour to affected people in our community.”
While also drawing attention to the fact that Soba is a separate community from Abule-Ado, Agbebeji said: “That incident occurred mainly at Soba community and not Abule -Ado, as widely speculated. Soba community is an autonomous community under Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area.
“The community is governed by a constituted authority under my leadership and other royal chiefs. So, Soba community is distinct and different from Abule-Ado community, though they share a common boundary. ”
