FIC Report (Lagos State) – Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said that the Lagos State Government would meet with the management of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to discuss issues of compensation for victims of the January 19, 2020, pipeline fire in Abule Egba.
The Governor disclosed this while sympathising with over 300 displaced victims of the inferno. The Government said it resettled the victims at the Igando Emergency Relief Camp in Alimosho.
The Governor said the compensation plan would be extended to those whose properties were razed in the inferno, adding that, some of the victims who rented homes in the area would also be supported to re-adjust back to their normal lives.
“As a responsible government, we need to go back and have a thorough discussion with NNPC on what kind of lasting solution we are expecting and compensation we can make available for the victims, so that we can resettle them back into their community. We will also be looking at various forms of affordable accommodation for some of them who rent homes in the community”, he disclosed.
“We have taken enumeration and we know the status of each of the displaced families that are clustered in this relief camp. We will work with the records for the compensation and every one of them will be reintegrated back to their community.”
Mr Sanwo-Olu described the incident as a “regrettable disaster”, saying the government felt the pain of the innocent victims who bore the losses of the pipeline vandalism.
The excited victims appreciated the State Government for looking after their welfare in the aftermath of the disaster, describing the relief programme as an “unexpected gesture”. They said the State Government’s effort had been helping them to cope and keep up with life.
The Igando relief camp is equipped with various amenities, including primary healthcare center, constant water and electricity.
Naomy Oranezu,
Information Officer,
FIC, Lagos.
