A human rights lawyer representing the four victims of an explosion at the AIRTEL Networks Limited base station at Ikotun Lagos has written to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) seeking sanctions against the major telecoms provider.

In a letter dated 22nd April, 2024, the Lead Counsel for the victims, Dr. Olubunmi Odeniyi urged the telecoms regulator to “Levy appropriate sanctions by way of fines as a deterrence” to others.

The letter was titled “OFFICIAL REPORT/COMPLAINT OF NEGLIGENT AND RECKLESS OPERATION OF AIRTEL AT ITS BASE STATION BTS LAG 767) AT NO. 15/19, ABIODUN IBIDAPO STREET, ASALU BUS-STOP, ABARANJE, IKOTUN, LAGOS STATE ON TUESDAY, 19 MARCH, 2024 CAUSING AN INFERNO RESULTING IN SEVERE LIFE-CHANGING BURNS ON FOUR (4) PEOPLE.”

Odeniyi urged NCC to “Order the immediate closure and cessation of operations at the site to maintain the integrity of the site for appropriate investigation by your Commission and other concerned statutory bodies.”

The human rights lawyer, who stated that “Airtel management have refused to engage the injured in any manner to assuage their desperate medical emergency,” also pleaded with the telecoms regulator to “Direct AIRTEL management to immediately initiate urgent and rehabilitative medical remediation of our Clients.”

The letter reads: “We are Solicitors/Counsel to the four (4 Nos.) innocent passers-by who were severely burned in a fire that broke out at the AIRTEL BASE STATION at No. 15/19, Abiodun Ibidapo Street, Asalu Bus-stop, Abaranje, Ikotun, Lagos State on Tuesday, 19 March, 2024. They are Messrs. FERANMI NURENI OLUWATOBA; SAHEED ADELEKE; FRANKLIN OBADE; and SAHEED RAJI.

“Our Clients were rushed to various hospitals in the vicinity where sporadic and altogether inadequate services are being done hamstrung by the lack of financial capacity by the victims and their families.

“The cause of the explosion was the reckless manner of operations on the site whereat a welder was welding a tank and a diesel supplier making a delivery of fuel at the same AIRTEL site.

“We have brought this dire situation to the attention of Airtel by our duly acknowledged letter dated 2 April, 2024 but Airtel management have refused to engage the injured in any manner to assuage their desperate medical emergency. Our Clients are currently undergoing intense pain and suffering, discomforts, disfigurement, neglect, losses of income and unplanned daily mounting medical bills.

“Our humble request to your Commission is to pro-actively intervene in the following manner:

1. Order the immediate closure and cessation of operations at the site to maintain the integrity of the site for appropriate investigation by your Commission and other concerned statutory bodies;

2. Direct AIRTEL management to immediately initiate urgent and rehabilitative medical remediation of our Clients;

3. Further direct AIRTEL to promptly and adequately compensate the injured; and

4. Levy appropriate sanctions by way of fines as a deterrence.

“Our Clients rely on your Commission as their conditions cannot survive with a protracted court litigation which will only favor AIRTEL.”

It was unclear at press time whether Airtel Networks has been notified of the petition.

A human rights lawyer, Dr. Olubunmi Odeniyi has petitioned major telecom service provider, Airtel Networks Limited over the inferno which engulfed its base station at Ikotun, Lagos killing one Chidi Emmanuel while inflicting “severe life-changing burns” on four others.

In a letter dated 2nd April, 2024, Odeniyi stated that the lives of the victims who were passers-by and residents of the area “are presently at grave risk and danger.”

Noting that the telecoms giant has not offered any assistance to the victims since the incident on March 19, Odeniyi demanded “that Airtel Networks Limited must immediately fly all our Four (4) Clients together with an assistant each to the UK or the USA to the best burns center available abroad and pay all medical and incidental fees.”

Titled “EGREGIOUS NEGLIGENCE OF YOUR COMPANY CAUSING FIRE AND EXPLOSION AND RESULTING IN SEVERE LIFE-CHANGING BURNS TO FOUR (4) VICTIMS ON TUESDAY, 19 MARCH, 2024: DEMAND FOR URGENT MEDICAL REMEDIATION AND COMPENSATION TO FOUR (4) VICTIMS,” the letter was addressed to the Managing Director of Airtel Networks Limited and received by the company on 3rd April, 2024.

Aside from Emmanuel who was killed by the explosion, Feranmi Nureni Oluwatoba, Saheed Adeleke, Franklin Obade and Saheed Raji were badly burnt during the incident.

The human rights activist stated that the telecoms giant abandoned the victims without any medical care, saying: “Our instruction is that your agents and/or privies, a welder and a diesel supplier negligently executed the tasks given to them by you and in the process, a huge fire explosion ensued at and around the BTS which severely burnt our said Clients who are innocent passers-by and residents of the community to the point where their lives are presently at grave risk and danger.

“This unfortunate incident has caused great discomforts, apprehension, pain, suffering and distress, not only to the victims but to their families who have little or no means to attend to their sudden but urgent medical treatments.

“Our further instruction from our Clients is that your company, despite being aware of the incident through your guard on duty at the BTS, have not showed up at the scene nor interacted with our Clients to the end of bringing succour to their medical and psychological distresses.

“The little financial efforts our Clients could muster have not engendered the vital and urgent responses that the situation warrants from you.”

The senior lawyer demanded that if the telecoms company was not willing to fly the victims abroad for medical care, it should avail them with the “cost of medical assistance of their choice and discretion abroad including skin-grafting and plastic surgery” as well as compensation for loss or reduction of life prospects.

Though the telecoms service provider was asked to “enter into an immediate commitment or undertaking to one of the pathways offered above in items 1 and 2 WITHIN SEVEN (7) DAYS of the date this letter,” it has shunned all entreaties to provide medical assistance to the victims.

It was gathered that a last-ditch effort by the human rights activist to meet with the company’s legal team or the chief executive officer in a desperate bid to obtain urgent medical care for the victims was rebuffed by the company.

The senior lawyer however warned the telecoms giant to “TAKE NOTICE that your BTS at the said location is a potential crime scene for investigation of criminal negligence resulting in the death of one MR. CHIDI EMMANUEL who died from his severe burns at Gbagada General Hospital in addition to the grievous wounds inflicted on our Clients. Any continued operation of the BTS may also unnecessarily inflame passions of the surrounding community and may lead to a breach of the peace.”

The inferno and explosion occurred at the AIRTEL base transceiver station (BTS Lag 767) at Abaranje, Ikotun, Lagos State.

The Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority, (OYRTMA) is set to receive a boost in its operation, as telecommunication giant, Globacom has promised to equip the agency with modern digital facilities to enhance its smooth operations in the state.

The Chairman, OYRTMA, Major Adesagba Adekoya (rtd.), revealed this after receiving the management team of Globacom, in his office at Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan on Friday.

He affirmed that the intervention is the best thing to happen to the state, adding that the new equipment would aid the smooth operation of the Agency and make it more effective.

The Chairman remarked that using modern technologies against traffic offenders would ease the Agency’s operation and apprehension of traffic offenders which would consequently increase the state’s internally generated revenue by the Agency.

Major Adekoya reiterated the commitment of the present administration to work assiduously both day and night to ensure hitch-free road traffic in the state.

In his remarks, the South-West Zonal Director of Globacom, Mr. Adeniyi Odejobi assured OYRTMA of the organization’s support with modern technology as its corporate social responsibility.

He commended OYRTMA for its relentless efforts at maintaining road traffic orderliness and its day-to-day campaign in the state.

Among the dignitaries present during the courtesy visit include the Zonal General Manager Globacom, Mr. Gabriel Makinde; General Manager OYRTMA, Commander Adeoye Ayoade; Director,Admin and Supplies, Kareem Jimoh among others.

In another dimension, the OYRTMA during the day also embarked on a special operation enforcement led by its Chairman where about thirty- seven traffic offenders were apprehended with duly fine.