NSCDC demolishes houses, other structures on Shell gas pipelines in Ogun

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ogun State command, says it has begun demolition of houses, shops and other structures erected on Shell gas pipelines, which supply major manufacturing industries in Sango-Ota, Atan-Ota, Igbesa and Agbara in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state.

The demolition exercise, which has affected scores of such structures in the areas mentioned, was executed by the men of Civil Defence Corps to prevent avoidably, artificially-created disaster, and to reclaim lost Right of Way (ROW) for the gas pipelines, for which hundreds of industries depend as source of energy.

Speaking on the demolition exercise in Abeokuta on Sunday, Kareem Olanrewaju, public relations officer, said the demolition exercise started on Friday, and took off from Oju-Ore, Singer Bus Stop, Obasanjo Road in Ota, but would move to Igbesa and OPIC area in Agbara.

According to Olanrewaju, NSCDC started the demolition of such illegal structures erected on Shall gas pipelines having reached out to the concerned owners through several warning notices, sensitization, as well as one-on-one discussions and interactions with the affected people.

He added that the Civil Defence Corps had earlier warned people living in the communities involved, not to encroach on the Right-Of-way (ROW) of Shell gas pipelines, underlining the dangers such moves might pose on people’s lives, properties and environment as a whole.

He disclosed that the demolition approval was given by Corps Commandant, Aboluwoye Akinwande, directing men of NSCDC, to execute the demolition in batches, having served eviction notices to the occupants, just as he appelaed to communities around the places not allow any person or group of persons, to erect structure on gas pipelines.