The Registered Trustees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has asked the African Commission on Human and Peoples�s Rights to punish Nigeria for last week�s pipeline fire which killed hundereds of people at Abule Egba in Lagos.
In a petition signed by SERAP�s Executive Director, Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni, the group, a non-governmental organisation, told the Commission that Nigeria had failed to monitor pipelines operations, repair pipelines network and provide adequate security around pipelines contrary to its human rights obligations under the African Charter and other international organisations to which Nigeria was a signatory.
The group argued that government�s failure to discharge its responsiblities had resulted in a series of serious human rights violations in the country.
SERAP noted that Nigeria had violated many sections of African Charter, particularly Articles 2 (which requires equal enjoyment of human rights irrespective of social origin or fortune); 4 (which guarantees the right to life and inviolability of human beings); 5 (which requires respect for the dignity inherent in a human being); 14 (which guarantees the right to property to everyone); 16 (which requires the protection of the right to health of everyone); 20 (which guarantees the right to existence to everyone); and 24 (which guarantees the right to a general satisfactory environment to everyone).
It blamed the explosion on the prevailing fuel scarcity in the country, which it attributed to marketers� refusal to the lift fuel from the depots across the country as well as government�s failure to effectively tackle the problem.
It further noted that the explosion at Abule Egba was not an isolated case, adding that, �similar situations have happened in many parts of the country, (including Jesse in Delta State where over 1,000 lives were lost, and at Ilado village in Lagos where hundreds were killed).
The group urged the commission to ask the Federal Government to ensure adequate supply of petrol to domestic consumers, and to establish or strengthen a programme to tackle persistent fuel scarcity in the country.
It also asked the commission to advise the Nigerian government to establish an effective system of monitoring pipeline networks, repair damaged pipelines and provide adequate security to protect pipelines across the country.
SERAP also urged the commission to order the Federal Government to respect the rights of the victims of the last pipeline explosion, including the right of access to adequate health services for the injured, and the right to effective remedies, including restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition of the disaster.