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Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has expressed his condolences for the loss of property by residents of Idimu, Lagos, owing to the tanker fire that occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Ambode, who visited the scene of the disaster in company with the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, promised to provide immediate relief for the victims.
According to the governor, a tanker, carrying about 33,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) crashed into a building along Isheri Road while racing with another tanker and a commercial bus.
The collision resulted in a spillage of the diesel into a gutter which was reportedly ignited by the flames of a suya seller located close by.
Ambode noted that the incident resulted in the destruction of 34 shops and 15 houses.
A visibly devastated Mr. Sodiq Olalere, whose shop was razed by the inferno, told our correspondent that he lost about N1.5m worth of goods.
Similarly, Mrs. Bukky Adeyanju, who has a provision store, put her loss at about N300,000 in products.
A boutique owner, Mrs. Lola Abiola, said the fire destroyed goods worth about N900,000.
Ambode thanked God that though there was a vast amount of destruction done to people’s homes and means of livelihood, no life was lost.
He said there would be a meeting with the state chapter of the National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (Petroleum Tanker Drivers) and other stakeholders on Monday.
Punch