NMDPRA seals ’19 illegal cooking gas outlets’ in Delta

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has shut down 19 illegal liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and category D cooking gas outlets in Delta.

NMDPRA classify category D cooking gas as small LPG cylinders used for domestic cooking.

Victor Ohwodiasa, coordinator of NMDPRA in Delta, spoke to the press in Warri on Tuesday.

Ohwodiasa said NMDPRA sealed the illegal outlets within the last two weeks in Orerokpe, Ogwashi-Ukwu, Warri, and its surroundings.

He said the regulatory authority took action because the outlets lacked approvals and were in unsafe locations.

“During the operations, about 28 illegal outlets were spotted by the authority,” Ohwodiasa said.

“We tried to see if it is possible to have them regularised as they were wrongly sited.

“The outlet that was sealed in Ogwashi-Ukwu was a five metric tonnes refilling plant constructed on a roadside closed to high tension cables.

“The authority looked at the environment; it was wrongly sited on a right of way and has no approval. It was sealed and relocation order issued immediately.

“Other offenders were the ones doing what we called, ‘decanting’, which means bottle to bottle transfer. We do not allow that.

“What they are expected to do is ‘bottle swap’, that is bring your empty cylinder and go with a filled one.”

‘THE GOAL IS TO ENSURE COOKING GAS OUTLETS OPERATE SAFELY’

Ohwodiasa said the goal is to ensure small-scale cooking gas businesses operate safely, rather than to harm them.

He asked landlords not to rent their properties to illegal LPG operators, citing fire risks to the lives and properties of the operators and neighbouring individuals.

“Imagine someone storing cooking gas close to where welding operation is taking place or where a woman is frying beans cake or roasting corn,” he said.

“Once there is leakage, the resultant effect will be catastrophic.

“If the operator of the illegal outlet does not appreciate his life, it is our duty to ensure that he does not kill himself and others by illegally operating such facility.”

Ohwodiasa thanked Ahmed Farouk, the chief executive officer (CEO) of NMDPRA for his consistent support in Delta state operations.

The coordinator noted that the regulatory authority would continue to sustain the surveillance exercise in the state.

He said the NMDPRA will hand over any defaulter refusing to relocate their facility to security agencies for prosecution.

The coordinator also asked the public to report illegal cooking gas transfers and promised prompt action.

Ohwodiasa assured that the NMDPRA will continue to educate operators through sensitisation and annual stakeholder meetings.