Abule-Ado Explosion: PDP Calls for Rejigging of Emergency Response 

BY GRACE ANYANWU, ABUJA – Following the Sunday explosion at Abule-Ado in Lagos, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for a total rejig of emergency response in a manner that will educate Nigerians on how to prevent disasters.

The PDP said that it holds that an overhaul of the nation’s emergency management must strengthen quick responses to disasters by respective agencies of government and volunteer groups.

This is as the Party expressed shock and grief over what it described as “yet another devastating” explosion in Abule-Ado, Lagos state, which again resulted in the agonizing death of innocent citizens while injuring and rendering many more homeless.

The PDP said that it is particularly worried about the spate of explosions and other avoidable disasters, particularly in Lagos and other strategic states, which raises grave public safety concerns in the nation’s commercial nerve centers.

The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, recalled that only in January, a pipeline explosion rocked Abule-Egba in Lagos state in which compatriots were killed in an inferno that razed valuables and brought anguish to many families.

Ologbondiyan said that the PDP insists that drastic measures must be adopted to check recurring disasters in the country, adding that the explosion has again brought sorrow, anguish and pain to families who are now suffering bereavement, injuries, homelessness, loss of property and means of livelihood.

He further said; “The PDP is grieved by the traumatizing effect of the explosion on a school, which killed the school principal, Revd. Sist. Henrietta Alokha, and injured many of the students. 

“Our party notes the heroic service rendered by Revd. Sister Alokha in saving no fewer than 300 students and losing her own life at the end.” 

The PDP urges the Federal Government to confer a worthy posthumous recognition in honour of Revd Sister Alokha.

It also deeply commiserated with the victims of the explosion and urged relevant authorities as well as public spirited individuals, groups and establishments to come to their aid.

The PDP called on all Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue to pray for divine intervention on the nation at this trying time.