National Telescope national telescope newspaper
****Says infractions pose serious risks to public safety
By Peter chucks, Asaba
DELTA: The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has sealed 19 illegal Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Category D cooking gas outlets in Delta State over safety violations and lack of regulatory approvals.
Ohwodiasa expressed gratitude to the Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Engr. Ahmed Farouk, for his unwavering support in ensuring safety in the state’s gas sector.
Speaking to journalists in Warri, the NMDPRA Coordinator in Delta, Engr. Victor Ohwodiasa, revealed that the affected gas outlets were shut down in Orerokpe, Ogwashi-Ukwu, and Warri within the past two weeks following regulatory enforcement exercises.
“We identified about 28 illegal gas outlets, many of which were poorly sited and posed serious risks to public safety,” Ohwodiasa said.
He cautioned landlords against leasing spaces to unauthorized gas operators, stressing that such actions could lead to disastrous consequences.
“We sealed these outlets due to multiple infractions, including lack of approval and unsafe locations,” he stated.
Citing a case in Ogwashi-Ukwu, he disclosed: “We found a five-metric-tonne refilling plant built dangerously close to a roadside and under high-tension cables. The site was unsafe, had no approval, and was immediately sealed, with a relocation order issued.”
Ohwodiasa also condemned the dangerous practice of “decanting,” which involves transferring gas from one cylinder to another, describing it as a major safety hazard.
“We do not permit decanting. The standard practice is ‘bottle swap’—customers should exchange empty cylinders for filled ones. Imagine storing cooking gas near a welding shop or where a woman is frying akara or roasting corn. A minor gas leak in such an environment could lead to a disaster,” he warned.
He assured the public that the NMDPRA remains committed to safeguarding lives and properties, adding that non-compliant operators will be handed over to security agencies for prosecution.
“This enforcement will continue, and anyone found guilty will face the full weight of the law,” he said.
The agency, he noted, also engages stakeholders, including gas plant owners and Category D operators, to ensure strict adherence to safety regulations.
“We run public sensitization campaigns through radio and television to educate people on the safe handling of cooking gas,” he added.
