- Three persons including a station cleaner, a pump attendant and one other sustained various degrees of injuries and that they were rushed to the hospital for treatment
Three persons sustained various degrees of injuries in an explosion at the NIPCO filling station at Eyean community in Benin-Auchi road, Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State.
WITHIN NIGERIA reports that the incident occurred on Thursday morning at the NIPCO gas station when a CNG Audi-powered vehicle was being filled with gas.
It was also gathered that the explosion was a result of the alleged fake conversion kits and substandard cylinders used in the installation and conversion of the fuel to gas.
A 25-second viral video of the incident showed a damaged vehicle following the explosion.
A voice was heard saying there was a gas explosion at the NIPCO gas station.
The voice added that the driver of the vehicle was at the gas station to refuel when the explosion occurred.
It further added that the driver of the car and the technician who installed the CNG kits in the vehicle had driven to the filling station to test the efficacy of the installation when the explosion occurred.
The male voice alleged that three persons including a station cleaner, a pump attendant and one other sustained various degrees of injuries and that they were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
It was also learnt that the technician reported himself to the police and led a team of officers to the scene of the accident.
A witness who spoke to newsmen, however, attributed the explosion to the fake gas cylinder used for the vehicle while converting the vehicle from fuel to gas.
According to him, if you see the gas cylinder used for the conversion, it is different from the one the CNG are using.
Reacting, the management of NIPCO Gas Ltd. has attributed the explosion to a fake and substandard Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinder installed in a vehicle.
In a statement, the company disclosed: “The management of NIPCO Gas Ltd. wishes to inform the general public of an incident that occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at our Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station located in Eyean, Benin City, Edo State.
“Our preliminary findings revealed that the explosion happened when a vehicle arrived for CNG refueling. Unfortunately, the cylinder installed in the vehicle was later identified as a fake, fabricated, substandard unit not designed for CNG. It exploded after being filled with just around 4 SCM of gas.
“The driver of the vehicle fled the scene immediately following the explosion. While no fatalities were recorded, two individuals sustained injuries—one with a leg injury and another with an eye injury. Both victims were rushed to the hospital for medical attention, and one of them is scheduled for surgery at another facility, based on medical advice. Our team is ensuring that they receive the necessary care and treatment.”
NIPCO further explained that the incident had been reported to the local police station, and the authorities have taken custody of the fake cylinder pieces and the vehicle involved.