THE CALABAR TANK FARM FIRE TRAGEDY
Tragedy, like war is what nobody prays for. Discussing or mere talking about it is even tough for some as they feel awful or scared at the mention of it. However, the two are realities of life. They happen whether one likes it or not. Life, itself is even described as a war. It is a thing we live with, day in day out.
Human beings encounter tragedies or wars in different ways. For some, it is nagging domestic issues while in extreme cases, humans are faced with loss of precious ones and invaluable materials.
Nobody prepares for it and none could predict its consequences. No matter how careful, one’s level of safety and security consciousness notwithstanding, they just happen, leaving behind tales of woes, sadness and catastrophes.
For LINC Tank Farm Limited, Calabar, it was a tragedy too many on the July 16 when its farm went up in flames as a result of an oil spillage. The inferno which occurred at about 3.40am claimed lives including those of a key worker of the farm, two in the opposite
company, DOZZY Oil and Gas Tank Farm and some security personnel. The neighbouring community also shared from the tragedy as the inferno which erupted while people were scooping petrol (PMS)killed a number of the villagers.
I n addition, properties worth millions of naira were also destroyed in LINC, DOZZY and other adjacent organisations. The environment was not spared too, as it suffered debilitating damage; the flora and fauna seriously hit.
Three weeks after this sad incident, the whole of Calabar Free Trade Zone is still in gloom as noticed when the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (downstream) paid an on the spot assessment to the farms last Thursday. From the entrance of the CFTZ to the LINC Farm, the adverse effects of the disaster were still palpable.
Right inside the farm, one can only pity and empathise with the organisation, as its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Patrick Ifeanyi Oramah conducted the team round the erstwhile functional and robust depot now characterised with charred structures, burnt
facilities and dim-looking workers. It was a pitiable sight that left most of the legislators feeling very concerned.
Chief Oramah told the lawmakers that he was travelling out of the country when he got the most destabilising call that an oil spillage in their tank farm ignited and resulted in loss of lives. “The tragedy,” Oramah said, “ensued consequence of spillage of petroleum (PMS) into the drains while it was being pumped from Dozzy Jetty, through pumps run via our farm, to Dozzy Depot, another tank farm located opposite us. The spilled petroleum later got ignited while people were scooping it outside our premises.”
He told the lawmakers that his company did not have any product in any of its tanks as at the time of the incident as the tanks had remained empty since January.
Mr. Oramah however became emotional as he revealed to the legislators that his company was expecting delivery of products to the tank farm in the week before the unfortunate incident occurred.
“LINC Nigeria Limited is terribly saddened over this disaster, particularly, the loss of human lives. We commiserate with the families of the bereaved and the entire Esuk Utan Community. Our heartfelt sympathies go to DOZZY Tank Farm Limited and all our
neighbours over their monumental losses” said Chief Oramah in an emotion-laden voice.
He however disclosed to the visiting legislators that the management of Calabar Export Free Zone handled the tragedy with deft and utmost sense of responsibility as he also praised the Fire Service, the Nigeria Police and other security and safety agencies for their promptness in combating the fire.
The instantaneous display of concern and conscientiousness by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and its regulatory agency, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to the disaster was also praiseworthy.
Chief Oramah said that LINC has always been in total compliance with safety and security measures in and around its premises and in all its operations. He however added that investigations were ongoing and that his company was cooperating fully with the various agencies. The Chairman of the committee on Petroleum (downstream), Hon. Joseph Akinlaja Iranola condoled the management of LINC, DOZZY, and the entire community over the unfortunate incident.
Honorable Akinlaja said the committee was impressed with the effective management of the disaster by the Export Free Zone, the security and safety agencies of Cross River State and the federal government. He said with such exhibition of effectiveness in combating this tragedy, Nigeria was genuinely making progress in disaster management. The chairman assured that the National Assembly would continue to see to the protection and safety of lives and property of citizens in its legislative functions.
As tragic as the incident was, it however provided some positives. Chief Patrick Ifeanyi Oramah remarked that the display of capacity, competence and care by all the concerned authorities and agencies of government was something to crow about.