A CNG-powered vehicle exploded at the NIPCO filling station in Aduwawa, Benin, Edo State, on Wednesday, leaving three people injured, including a motorist with severe eye injuries.
An attendant at the station who didn’t want his name published, confirmed that the other victims were a woman whose abdomen was ripped open and another person who had a foot amputated due to the blast.
The three victims are being treated at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Ugbowo.
The blast was caused by a cylinder that was locally made by a welder. The welder has since turned himself in at a police.
“The blast occurred while vehicles were in line to refill their CNG cylinders. The vehicle being refueled suddenly exploded. One motorist suffered serious eye injuries, the woman’s stomach was badly injured, and another person’s foot was amputated. They are all receiving treatment at UBTH, and we hope they recover,” the attendant explained.
At the scene, technicians were seen inspecting cylinders before refueling resumed. The station manager maintained silence over the issue.
Joshua Uwaila, the Public Relations Officer for UBTH, confirmed that the man with the eye injury is in stable condition.
In a statement on Twitter, the Presidential CNG Initiative confirmed the incident and expressed sympathy for those injured, stating that the explosion involved a cylinder that had been illegally modified.
The Initiative stressed the importance of following safety regulations when handling CNG.
Authorities, including the police, regulatory agencies, and NIPCO management, are investigating the incident.
The Initiative also announced that the Nigeria Gas Vehicle Monitoring System, set to be launched soon, will help prevent future incidents by enforcing stricter safety standards for CNG use in the country.
