… Prioritizes Resident Safety, Minimizes Gas Explosions
Kogi State Coordinator of Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Ogbe Orits Godwin, says the Authority is committed to reducing the hardship faced by citizens and will not add to the economic burden faced by Kogites.
He made this known while hosting members of the Federated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Lokoja on Friday, and assured them of a working partnership with the chapel to reach people at the grassroots.
The Coordinator stressed the Federated Chapel’s importance in grassroots engagement and declared that they will collaborate with the Chapel to ensure marketers’ safety and proper dispensing practices.
The NMDPRA coordinator revealed that its persistent commitment to safety in Kogi State has resulted in an impressive record: no fatalities related to gas explosions have been recorded in the state for the past year.
According to him, the agency has maintained its crackdown on the hazardous cylinder-to-cylinder gas refilling business to ensure public safety and protect those involved in the industry.
He pointed out that decanting and cylinder-to-cylinder gas refilling are prohibited, citing the severe risks they pose to human safety and property damage.
He observed that Kogi experienced frequent gas explosions with reported fatalities just a few years prior.
“When I came on board, we noticed numerous gas plants scattered across the state with frequent explosion cases. However, the decanting process, where gas was dispensed cylinder to cylinder, was even more concerning.”
“After a gas explosion in Obajana, I was assigned to investigate the incident and found that the man’s attempt to burn dirt he had swept earlier while decanting led to the explosion, resulting in millions of naira in damages.”
Engr. Ogbe noted that NMDPRA’s regulatory activities have led to a substantial decrease in gas explosion incidents statewide, culminating in a year with zero recorded fatalities.
Chairman of the federated chapel, Mike Abu, commended the NMDPRA Coordinator for maintaining the regulatory agency’s integrity in the state.
Abu brought to notice the illicit operations of some fuel stations resembling black markets, especially in Lokoja, the state’s capital city.
He recommended that NMDPRA establish a public hotline for residents to report fuel stations involved in unethical business practices.
He recalled how the agency had swung into action on numerous occasions to check the excesses of fuel stations in the state.
“Now, some stations will not sell fuel from morning till after work hours. They assumed our officials must have closed from work in the evening when they eventually began selling. However, when we noticed this trend, we deployed monitors and those caught paid for their actions.
“We also have those operating illegally. We ensure they license their filling stations and operate legally in the state,” he said.
He assured that NMDPRA will not rest on its oars by ensuring strict compliance with extant laws and guidelines to ensure consumer rights are protected and guarantee safety of residents.
