… No cause for alarm, says Ogun govt
By Emma Jemegah
It was a chaotic scene at the Alake Sports Complex, Ijeja, venue of the indoor games of the ongoing National Sports Festival in Abeokuta at smoke billows from the street behind the venue, sending the athletes, officials and fans scampering for safety.
SportingSun gathered that the fire incident erupted from a gas station on the street behind the complex, which emitted thick black smoke raising fears that the Alake Sports Complex was being gutted by fire.
According to a source, the gas station’s truck, which usually supply the complex gas to power the facility allegedly caught fire at the back end of the street but was promptly put off at the intervention of the fire service.
“It was true there was a fire incident but not inside the complex. However, the driver of the truck was able to drive the truck to safety before the arrival of the State Fire Service men, who were able to put out the fire. Though it took them about 45 minutes before they arrived, the fire was later contained.
“The truck came to supply diesel to the generating set that powers the complex,” another source explained.
However, no casualty was recorded, as all the athletes, officials and the fans are safe just as the events resume later.
Reacting to the development, the Ogun State government has assured athletes participating in the National Sports Festival holding in Abeokuta, as well as the residents of the state, of their safety, following a diesel tanker explosion near Alake’s Sports Complex, one of the facilities used for the ongoing Sports Festival.
Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, in a statement, said that while there was an incident involving a diesel tanker that resulted in a fire outbreak, the fire was immediately put out to prevent any damage.
Akinmade commended the promptness and proactiveness of the fire service in the state and the vigilance of officials at the complex, assuring participants at the sports festival of total safety.
“The incident this afternoon involving a gas tanker close to one of our facilities for the National Sports Festival was very unfortunate. We thank God that the fire was immediately put out to avert any casualties.
“To this end, we want to assure all our athletes and the people of the state of safety and that there is no cause for alarm as the situation is under absolute control,” the statement read.