NIPCO Gas Ltd. has confirmed that the explosion at its Compressed Natural Gas station in Benin, Edo State, was caused by a fake and substandard CNG cylinder installed in a vehicle.
The explosion happened at the NIPCO filling station on Aduwawa, along the Benin-Auchi Expressway.
In a statement released by the company, it was disclosed that the incident occurred at around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
“Our preliminary findings revealed that the explosion happened when a vehicle arrived for CNG refueling. Unfortunately, the cylinder installed in the vehicle was later identified as a fake, fabricated, substandard unit not designed for CNG. It exploded after being filled with just around 4 SCM of gas,” the statement said.
The driver of the vehicle fled the scene after the explosion. While no lives were lost, two people were injured in the incident—one with a leg injury and the other with an eye injury. Both victims were rushed to the hospital, and one is scheduled for surgery at another facility. NIPCO assured that they are ensuring the victims receive proper medical care.
The company has reported the incident to the local police, and the authorities have taken possession of the fake cylinder parts and the vehicle involved. NIPCO emphasized the danger of using unauthorized CNG installations by unqualified technicians, which they have continuously warned against.
The management stated, “We are fully cooperating with the relevant authorities to prevent future occurrences and to reinforce our commitment to public safety across all operations.”
As a safety measure, operations at the affected station have been temporarily suspended. “This step is to show our solidarity with those impacted by the incident,” the company added.
NIPCO reiterated its commitment to maintaining high safety standards, saying, “We remain dedicated to providing safe and reliable infrastructure for the growth of CNG as an alternative automotive fuel in Nigeria. The safety and well-being of our stakeholders are our top priority.”
The company assured the public of its ongoing commitment to the highest industry standards in all operations.
