The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Ogun has begun the demolition of houses, shops and other structures erected on pipelines in different parts of the state.
Our correspondent gathered that the NSCDC demolition squad on Friday pulled down structures constructed on Shell gas pipelines around Oju-Ore in Ota, Adodo-Ota Local Government Area of the state.
The gas pipeline supplies industries in Sango and Agbara axis of the state.
During the exercise, Civil Defence operatives were said to have demolished unspecified number of houses,shops and other illegal structures allegedly erected directly on the pipeline’s Right-Of-Way.
The NSCDC Public Relations Officer for the state, Kareem Olanrewaju, said that the illegal structures had been erected on the pipeline without considering the dangers inherent in such an action.
Olanrewaju said that before the demolition exercise, the corps had sent several warning notice in form of letters, sensitize the people and even held one-on-one discussions with the affected residents.
He said, “The corps has warned the people living in that community not to encroach on the Right-Of-Way and explained to them the dangers it posed to their lives, property as well as their environment.
“The Corps Commandant, Aboluwoye Akinwande, recently approved the demolition exercise, which he directed should take place in batches, to go on as scheduled, having served the occupants eviction notice a number of times. The present exercise covers Oju-Ore gas pipeline ,Singer bus stop along Lagos-Abeokuta expressway while subsequence ones will cover Ota, Oju-Ore, Obasanjo Road, Petedo and OPIC area in Agbara.
“The Corps hereby appeal to communities around the location of gas pipeline not to or allow any person to erect structures on gas pipeline, as the consequence of such action will have direct impact on their lives and environment.”
The Civil Defence spokesman therefore warned that the corps would not condone any illegal act from anyone, adding that people should not take unnecessary risk because of material things.
