From China Austin, Enugu
Fresh facts have emerged over the cause of fire disaster that engulfed part of the Enugu campus of Caritas University, Enugu, last week.
Findings revealed that it was a gas leakage which was caused by borehole drilling activities that led to the inferno that caused panic in the Emene axis of the Enugu State capital.
Prior to the revelation of the cause of the fire disaster by relevant authorities including the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) tongues were wagging in the streets of Enugu and its environs alleging that the incident might not be unconnected with the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)
But according to the Director General of National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) Mr. Idris Musa, the gas leak was caused by borehole drilling activities which hit a gas reservoir.
Musa said that the area affected has long been cordoned off and fire fighters are permanently stationed at the incident scene so as to avert spread of the fire and any form of disaster.
He therefore advised members of the public to be calm as necessary steps have been taken to avert any disaster from the scene.
Collaborating with the statement of NOSDR boss, the Executive Secretary of
SEMA, Nkechi Ebeh, said, her office in collaboration with National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) activated the relevant emergency stakeholders including Fire Service (State, Federal and FAAN fire department), NNPC, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority provided immediate technical assessment and solution regarding the leakage and raging fire.
She equally advised members of the public not to panic as measures had been taken by relevant bodies to put off the fire.
“No cause for alarm over gas leak at Caritas University, Emene, outskirts of Enugu, which was caused by borehole drilling activities as safety measures
have been taken to avert any disaster from the incident scene”, she assured.
As at the time of going to press, fire was still raging on while the area of the incident had since been cordoned.