Abiodun orders demolition of affected buildings, pledges compensation for victims

GOVERNOR Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has ordered that some of the buildings affected by Saturday’s gas explosion at Ita-oshin in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the State be demolished and debris evacuated.

This is to allow for integrity tests to be carried out on the affected buildings.

Governor Abiodun made this known on Sunday during on-the-spot assessment of damage done to properties and businesses around the area.

The governor also promised that those whose properties were damaged or destroyed would be adequately compensated by his Administration, while the State Government would also take over the treatment of those in the hospital.

He also questioned the safety of trucks carrying Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) across the country, even as he noted that issues bothering on regulations, road worthiness of the modes of transportation of the products should be looked into.

He said, “As a responsible

State Government, our emergency management team have taken stock of all those businesses, residences that have been affected by this unfortunate incident.

“What has happened yesterday (on Saturday) throws up a lot of questions, far ranging questions. The issues around safety, issues around regulation, issues around road worthiness of the modes of transportation, and issues around the required regulatory oversight for the entire industry must be looked into.

“Are these issues happening at the same speed as the industry is progressing? This would allow us to better understand and answer those questions.

“I have directed that one or two buildings be evacuated until our regulatory agency that is in charge does the required integrity test on those buildings to ensure that they are safe for our people to continue to leave in there.

“All those affected will be compensated, all those who are in the hospital, we will take over their treatment,” he said.