Ogun Gov’t Shuts Gas Firm After Abeokuta Explosion

Following the explosion that occurred in Abeokuta on Saturday, the Ogun State Government, on Monday, sealed off Gasco Marine Limited, owner of the tanker truck responsible for the accident.

The incident caused explosion in the Ita-Oshin area of Abeokuta North Local Government Area on Saturday.

Giving reason for the closure, Senior Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on Environment and Chairman, Special Task Force on Environmental Matters, Farouq Akintunde, attributed the explosion to the negligence on the part of the logistics company.

Akintunde stated this while speaking in an interview after sealing off the premises of the company located at Onijoganjogan, Abeokuta, on Monday.

“It was a sorry case because it involved loss of life and destruction of properties. Our preliminary investigation shows that it is an act of negligence from the company as they did not do the needful as regards the truck.

“As a regulatory body which is in control of all these matters, we believe there is a need for us to conduct safety and audit tests on all their trucks to prevent future occurrence. In doing so, we have to shut down the premises and after that all other procedures will follow,” Akintunde said.

He added that the company would be opened as soon as all necessary steps and precautions have been put in place, adding that Ogun as a business-friendly state does not take pleasure in sealing business premises perpetually.

One life, that of the truck boy, was lost to the incident which occurred at about 5pm at Ita Oshin junction on Saturday when the truck, moving inward Abeokuta, lost control and ran into the road pavement before it eventually exploded.