PDP, Progressive Govs Commiserate with Victims of Lagos Explosions

The Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday commiserated with the victims of Lagos explosions.

The main opposition party particularly expressed worry about the spate of explosions and other avoidable disasters in Lagos and other strategic states, which it said raised grave public safety concerns in Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre.

The party in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, recalled that in January 2020, a pipeline explosion rocked Abule-Egba in Lagos State in which Nigerians were killed in an inferno that also razed valuables and brought anguish to many families.

The PDP, therefore, called for a rejigging of the national emergency response scheme in a manner that would educate Nigerians on how to prevent disasters.

According to the PDP, "Our party also holds that such an overhaul of the country's emergency management must strengthen quick responses to disasters by respective agencies of the government and volunteer groups."

It insisted that drastic measures must be adopted to check recurring disasters in the country.

The party lamented that the explosion has again brought sorrow and pain to families who are now suffering bereavement, injuries, homelessness, loss of property and means of livelihood.

The statement said: "The PDP is grieved by the traumatising effect of the explosion in a school, which killed the school principal, Revd. Henrietta Alokha, and injured many of the students.

"Our party notes the heroic service rendered by Revd. Alokha in saving no fewer than 300 students, but unfortunately lost her own life in the end."

PDP, therefore, urges the federal government to confer a worthy posthumous recognition in honour of Alokha, who died while trying to save students in a school where she was the principal.

It 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.

"Our party calls on all Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue to pray for divine intervention in our country at this trying time," the main opposition party stated.

Meanwhile, the PGF has also commiserated with the government and people of Lagos State over the sad incident.

The Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, in a statement issued yesterday sympathised with the people of Lagos, especially the residents and indigenes of Abule Ado, who lost their homes, properties, means of livelihood and had been displaced by the disaster.

He said: "We commiserate with the government and people of Lagos State over the sad incidence of the pipeline explosion that caused many deaths and devastating damages to many houses in Abule Ado area of the state. At times like this, we send our condolence message to our colleague Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and all the people of the state for the unfortunate loss of lives. We pray that God Almighty would give you and the families of those who lost their lives the fortitude to bear the loss."

In another statement, the Forum also expressed condolences on the passing away of Hajia Hauwa Bello, the mother of Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

The forum described the late Hauwa Bello as a great woman of courage and value, adding that she distinguished herself in all aspects of humanity.