The Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has sealed two filling stations and a gas plant in Sagamu, Ogun, over alleged infractions.
The NMDPRA Coordinator in Ogun and Surveillance team lead, Mr Akinyemi Atilola, who coordinated the exercise on Wednesday, said that the action was in order to safeguard the lives and properties of residents.
He noted that the monitoring and surveillance action would also curb the excesses of petroleum marketers and continued extortion of unsuspecting customers.
Atilola said that the filling stations were sealed for under-dispensing while the gas outlet was sealed for operating without approval.
Atilola noted that while government preaches domestic gas utilisation for Nigerians, it was important to ensure rules and regulations were followed to prevent potential risks associated with its usage.
He said that his office received a letter from the community where the illegal gas plant was situated and upon visiting the site, they found out it did not have the approval to construct.
The NMDPRA coordinator said that no reasonable government agency would give such a place an approval.
According to him, the site is situated within a densely populated residential area.
“And we are again today to sound a note of warning that NMDPRA will not fold its hands while some people think that they can engage in gas plant construction without recourse and respect to the safety rules for the people around.
“We are out here on surveillance. We also need to know the quantity of fuel that is being dispensed to the masses, to know that they have value for their money.
“You can’t spend money on buying fuel at N959, N980 and still be having shortages; that isn’t good for our economy.
“So many of these stations will be monitored and we will definitely go after whoever is committing any infractions, malpractice in terms of quality, and quantity.
“We will also look at the safety of the stations,” the official said.
He advised petroleum and gas marketers to priortise the issue of safety and conduct their businesses with utmost sense of duty to ensure the safety of all.
Atilola also urged the public to register complaints of filling stations or gas outlets suspected of flouting regulations at its office. (NAN)
