Residents of the Abule Egba area of Lagos have raised the alarm over pollution of their sources of water supply by fuel that reportedly spilled from the petroleum pipeline ruptured by oil thieves on Wednesday, December 19, 2018.
Our source observed that wells, which were the main sources of water supply to houses on Arowolo Street, Adeyemi Close and Segun Akinola Street, among others, had been polluted by petrol after the pipeline was vandalised.
Some of the wells have been sealed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
Our source, who visited the place on Friday, observed that a red ribbon with caution inscription had been tied round the wells to prevent people from going close to them.
With the dry season setting in, residents said getting clean water to use had become a herculean task as women and children had to trek long distances to get water.
A landlady on Segun Akinola Street, Mrs Ashabi Adeyinka, said she had to pay at least N300 every day for clean water.
She said, “The last December incident of pipeline fire is still affecting us. Fuel spilled into our well and other wells around here and this is making it difficult for us to live.
“This house was built 29 years ago and we have been fetching water from the well since then. But now, we have to look elsewhere because the water is mixed with fuel. As you can see, some government officials came and sealed the well.”
Bamidele Adeyemi also told newsmen how residents of the area had been suffering since the incident started.