By Williams Odunze
In the move to ensure public safety and friendly environment within the State especially, its Capital territory, the State House of Assembly has drawn the attention of the State Governor, Hope Uzodinma to checkmate the proliferation of Cooking Gas Outlet within the residential areas across the State.
The call was made following the adoption of the motion moved by the member representing Isiala Mbano Constituency, Hon. Samuel Ikechukwu Osuji who informed the House that indiscriminate establishment of Cooking Gas is posing serious threats to lives and property within the residential areas.
He stated that there is a law responsible for monitoring and regulating the installation of Cooking Gas and wondered if the agencies like Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority,NPRA, and its sister agency, Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Authority, NPRA, are no longer living up to their expectations.
The Lawmaker, maintained that he is aware that the Imo State Ministry of Petroleum and the other agencies earlier mentioned are responsible for ensuring that health, safety and environmental regulations in the Petroleum, Oil and Gas Sector are strictly followed in order to safeguard lives and property in the State.
Hon. Osuji expressed worry that rampant location of Cooking Gas stations and the street vendors are exposing life of Imo citizens to danger.
He noted that many lives have already been lost and property destroyed, owing to gas explosions.
“Many Cooking Gas stations and local retail outlets have sprung up in most residential areas and the owners refill gas cylinders in their shops and on the roads located in every street within the State Capital, dispensing the product from 50kg cylinders to buyers with 12.5kg,10kg,7.5kg and below.These cooking Gas stations and local retail outlets have become tickling time bomb in the State, “he said.
In order to cution the effect of gas explosion,the Isiala Mbano Lawmaker beckoned on the House to urge the Governor Uzodinma to direct the Ministry of Petroleum and Environment in collaboration with Owerri Capital Development Authority,OCDA, to carry out proper investigation concerning the issue with the view of sealing off those ones that did not conform with the environmental laws in order to protect lives and property.
He further urged the House to mandate the House Committees on Environment and Imo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission,ISOPADEC, to jointly invite officials of the Ministries of Environment, Petroleum and OCDA to find out the cause of the indiscriminate establishment of Cooking Gas stations, especially, within Owerri without adhering to environmental rules.
