Chibisi Ohakah
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has assured that loading of petroleum products will resume at the Ibadan loading bay operated by the Corporation’s downstream subsidiary, Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC), despite the fire incident that affected some trucks at the depot.
The fire incident which affected parts of the depot reportedly left seven persons injured. A section of the loading point was completely damaged by fire, while three petrol tankers were also burnt, reports said. Activities at the depot were summarily suspended following the fire incident, as the usual loading of fuel was also shut down.
The immediate cause of the inferno could not be ascertained, but a source attributed the afternoon fire to an electrical surge which sparked off the fire. But a truck driver of one of the affected tankers, however, said the fire was caused by one of the tanker drivers at the loading point.
The driver said he was at the spot where the fire started, adding that he saw the particular tanker hitting the head of his vehicle battery after he has tapped energy from the battery belonging to another tanker. “It was when he put the battery and was hitting the head of the battery, trying to fix it that fire sparked from the battery and the next thing we say was a billow of smoke, trapping everyone available,” he told newsmen.
Describing the fire as ‘minor’ the NNPC assured that based on preliminary indicators, loading of petroleum products would resume in the depot within 24 hours.
The statement issued by the Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, highlighted that the incident would not disrupt steady petroleum products supply in Ibadan and its environs. He enjoined motorists not to engage in panic buying of petroleum products.
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