The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Resources Authority (NMDPRA), has expressed concern about the unregulated sprouting of illegal commercial cooking gas outlets, especially in residential areas with attendant risk to human lives in case of unexpected explosions.
Consequently, no fewer than 10 erring outlets were shut down by the agency yesterday due to the ongoing clampdown by the regulatory agency.
The Akwa Ibom coordinator, Mr Ikechukwu Eseka, in – charge of the Eket local government area office, who disclosed this at the end of surveillance operations in Uyo, the state capital, warned that the agency would continue to wield the big stick against such unwholesome practices across Akwa Ibom.
He explained that the affected LPG retailers were operating without licences and illegally operating without registered documents with the agency, pointng out that such unsafe practices were detrimental to public safety.
The state coordinator said that the LPG retail decanters were sealed within the Uyo metropolis despite several meetings held with their union leaders as deterrents.
“Some of the LPG decanters outlets operators convert high pressure 50 kg cylinders and turn it upside down to refill into smaller cylinders in residential building and which is very wrong,” he warned.
He condemned a situation whereby some LPG outlets were operating under high tension electric cables, assuring that the clampdown became necessary to safeguard lives and properties of citizens.
Eseka advised the LPG operators to go to NMDPRA Eket Field Office to register properly to meet the operating conditions.
He said the regulatory agency was working in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Federal Fire Service in the state to check the menace and urged residents to be wary of such illegal outfits in their domains for prompt report to the agency for action.
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