Even our manager escaped through the fence, says man working at hotel close to Magodo gas station

A middle-aged man working at Sporta Suites, a hotel around Second Coming Gas Station, Magodo, Lagos, said the human resource manager of the hotel, fled through the fence when an explosion rocked the station on Monday morning.

“Na gas we first dey smell o, me and those people wey dey bar outside. Suddenly, we hear noise and we begin see smoke. Na so we jump fence. Even our HR follow us jump fence. She come go fire service office to tell them say fire dey burn,” the worker told TheCable in pidgin English.

Other witnesses at the scene were not willing to comment when TheCable visited on Monday morninhg.

Several electronic appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners and generators being sold at a store inside the compound of the gas station were also burnt.

The fire was said to have started from a faulty vehicle within the premises.

At least two people were confirmed dead, while many others sustained injuries.

Adesina Tiamiyu, general manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), said the station is not yet safe for business as four trucks with burnt exteriors still have gas in them.

Tiamiyu made this known while speaking with TheCable at the scene of the incident.

“For sure we are going to shut down this station until proper assessment is carried out. There are tanks that are still loaded with products, we have to ensure that they are safe. We also have to prepare the compound for any other person who would like to work,” he said.

“Two big gas tanks and two small gas tanks are still there loaded with products and they have been burnt. With the current hot temperature, I tell people that it is still not safe to conduct business there.

“Even the emergency workers working there are doing that with utmost caution. So, we will finish this work in quick time so that we can open up this road. We have closed it for over two hours now and after that, we will shut down this gas station.”

Assuring Magodo residents of safety, he said LASEMA officials would not leave the scene until they are completely sure of its safety.

“For now, we want to tell residents of Magodo that they are safe and we will not have a reignition of this fire here. We will not leave here until we are sure it is completely safe, that’s why we still have four fire trucks here still standing by.”