June 30, (THEWILL) – Residents of Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, and its environs have sent a Save-Our-Soul (SOS) message to the government and relevant agencies to monitor closely the activities of gas vendors.
They raised their concerns following the proliferation of cooking gas dispensing shops across the streets of Uyo metropolis and suburbs.
They said the call becomes necessary given the inflammable nature of gas especially in residential areas.
Speaking with our correspondent, one Unyime Akpan said, “We are gradually moving away from fossil fuel; but my worry is the proliferation of these gas vendors in resident areas. We all know the combustible nature of gas. We’ve heard of sad occurrences in other places, and that is why the government must exercise strict control over their activities to safeguard lives and property.”
Another resident, Bassey Etuk, said almost all the streets where people resided had at least two gas vendors operating in the area, urging the state government to ensure that the vendors are given frequent safety training considering the risk their operations pose.
However the Deputy Director of the Fire Service, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Anthony Tom, in an interview said the proliferation is as a result of ignorance and lack of proper feasibility studies when venturing into business
He advised operators to ensure strict compliance with safety precautions as laid down by the department to forestall the danger associated with illegal or indiscriminate citing of such shops.
He said the department uses more of a dialogue approach than violence in getting defaulters to see reasons to do the right thing.
Tom explained that since cooking gas is a common commodity used by people within the society, what is needed is strict compliance to safety precautions in citing such shops and not isolating them.
He urged those venturing into such businesses to visit the Fire Service office for inspection to determine the likely hazards within a given environment.
He said: “Some people might think such shops are supposed to be in isolated areas but that is not ideal, note that the volume of danger in that particular situation is also very high in case of any eventuality. You can have a whole city in flames and no one would be spared.
“The best option is to stick to the rules. When you want to open a gas dispensing shop, follow the rules. Number one: call in the fire service to inspect the space before you even pay for it, they will know the volume of danger in a given environment.
“We have discovered in the course of our regular inspections that there could be food outlets where open flame is used beside a gas dispense shop. The danger here is applicable to everyone, the owner of the shop is not spared, the customers, even the ones patronizing the food outlet are not excluded.”
Explaining further, the Deputy Director said sealing any gas shop is always considered a last resort when all explanations, persuasions, dialogue as well as education has been exhausted.
He opined that taking such businesses to isolated areas amounted to efforts in futility as development would eventually catch up even as there is no law prohibiting anyone from developing his plot of land to his taste.
He however called on the general public to partner in the safety business by writing petitions where necessary to the Fire Service Department for necessary actions.
Recommending fire extinguishers for every business owner and private homes, Tom lamented that lack of adequate personnel to handle the huge job involved in fire service business, lack of official vehicles to go on operational outings, as well as lack of funds for proper sensitisation in the media as the challenges they face.
Also speaking, Operations Controller, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Victor Ohwodiasa, condemned the proliferation of sales points saying it is unacceptable.
“We will definitely clamp down on them. As I speak now, our men are on the way to check on the illegal gas stations; and anyone caught will face the wrath of the law,” Ohwodiasa said.
He promised that the exercise would be a continuous one, until the department is able to enforce regularisation based on safety considerations.
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