The Lagos State Government has stepped up efforts to curb pipeline vandalism, encroachment and related explosions through sustained community sensitisation and inter-agency collaboration.
This is just as it warned that the menace continues to pose grave risks to lives, property and the environment.
This commitment was reiterated during a community engagement exercise organised by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area in Alimosho area of the State.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye said the sensitisation drive was aimed at preventing pipeline explosions, vandalism and illegal encroachment on pipeline rights of way.
Ogunleye who was represented by the Head of the Department of Oil and Gas in the ministry, Engineer Adedayo Adereti, said recent years have witnessed a reduction in pipeline-related explosions in Lagos due to improved collaboration with security agencies, but the government is determined to sustain and deepen these gains.
“The bottom line is saving lives and protecting our pristine environment. We have seen a drastic reduction in pipeline explosions, but we are not resting on our oars. There must be continuous collaboration, intelligence gathering and emergency response,” he said.
He recalled a foiled vandalism attempt in 2024, when residents alerted authorities after observing suspicious activity during a reconnaissance survey.
According to the Commissioner, the swift response by security operatives led to the arrest of the suspects, preventing what could have resulted in a deadly explosion.
Ogunleye stressed that community participation remains critical, urging residents to adopt the “see something, say something” approach.
“If you keep quiet, you enrich criminals. When you show courage and report suspicious activities, lives are saved,” he said.
Also speaking, Head of Plan Vetting and Code Enforcement at the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Chief Fire Officer Amusan David, highlighted improvements in emergency response outcomes across the state.
He disclosed that in 2023, the state recorded 1,952 emergency calls covering fires, explosions and rescue operations, while 2024 saw a reduction of nearly 21 per cent.
Amusan attributed the decline to improved coordination, public awareness campaigns and proactive enforcement.
“Any reduction in fire and explosion incidents means the government and emergency services are working for the people. We have also recorded fewer explosion-related cases in 2024,” David said.
He advised Lagosians to adopt basic fire safety measures at home, avoid unsafe handling or storage of petrochemical materials, and ensure proper building setbacks to prevent explosions.
Amusan also reiterated the state’s emergency numbers, urging residents to promptly report incidents by calling 767 or 112.
On her part, the Executive Chairman of Mosan-Okunola LCDA, Opeyemi Akindele, said the local government is complementing the state government efforts by engaging youths through vocational training and other empowerment programmes.
“Some people want quick money and choose vandalism, but we continue to sensitise them on the dangers. Pipeline vandalism leads to death and destruction. We will not relent,” she said.
From the community perspective, Secretary of Community Development Council, CDC, in Mosan Okunola, Olufemi Oyewole-Ojo described pipeline vandalism as an internal challenge that requires collective responsibility and constant education.
“The offenders are not outsiders; they are within the community. People build on pipeline rights of way, and that can cause havoc for everyone,” he said.
Oyewole-Ojo called on the government to enhance surveillance through the deployment of drones to monitor pipeline corridors, noting that technology-driven monitoring could reduce communal tensions while improving enforcement.
Further clarifying the dangers of encroachment, a chemical engineer in Department of Oil and Gas in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Babatunde Olanrewaju, explained that encroachment includes illegal commercial and mechanical activities carried out within pipeline setback zones.
“There is a minimum setback of about three metres where no activity should take place. Selling food, operating mechanic workshops or storing flammable materials in these areas is dangerous,” he warned.
He added that while the ministry does not carry out arrests, it works closely with sister agencies such as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and other safety bodies to ensure swift enforcement.
The engagement concluded with renewed calls for residents to take ownership of pipeline safety, stressing that collective vigilance, timely reporting and adherence to safety regulations are essential to preventing avoidable tragedies across Lagos communities.
The event was attended by government officials, emergency responders and community leaders, security Agencies and members of the general public.