THE government must take serious inventory of all the many questions being raised by netizens in the wake of the post tragedy where a main gas pipeline ignited.
Social media exposes why our building policies need to be revisted. Are we approving construction projects that potentially can place gas pipelines at risk, now or later over time?
Video recordings showing evidences of illegal waste dumping in restricted gas pipeline territories cannot be treated as isolated crimes.
Vital warning signages put up by the gas pipeline operators that have disappeared, defaced or fallen off the poles cannot be overlooked.
Tresspassing is most obvious from the videos posted on social media. Fencing cut for shortcut routes is evident.
We have a national track record for poor maintenance.
We have almost zero record standards when it comes to waste dumping.
We know vandalism is a thriving business countrywide with thieves hungry for metals.
This issue of vulnerable and potentially catastrophic assets of the country cannot be left to private enterprises.
The gas pipeline inferno is a wake up call. We could have lost hundreds of lives, mind you.
Hence i pray, i hope and shout along with all concerned citizens that the government of the day takes this fiery event as far, far more than ‘an unfortunate incident’.
It calls for a reset of polices, standards and accountability. A cabinet emergency sitting to review, address and announce the way forward is not an option but a categorical imperative because this inferno incident, seemingly a ‘totally unexpected’ crisis has exposed gross weaknesses in the system. – April 5, 2025
***J. D. Lovrenciear is a reader of Scoop