Preventing Gas Explosions At Homes And Plants

• Experts Want Illegal, Risk-Prone Outlets Banned

Following the gas explosion in Sabon Tashan, Kaduna State earlier this month that killed about six people, including the Chairman, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, Prof. Simon Mallam, and also destroyed properties worth millions of naira, many state governments across the country have started taking steps to avert a reoccurrence.

Governor Nasiru El-Rufai who visited the scene of the incident a day after promptly ordered the closure of all gas refill stations located within residential areas in the state. Many other states in the federation have taken a cue from Kaduna having also recorded accidents that resulted from the indiscriminate location of gas plants and retail outlets in the past.

In 2019 for instance, a gas explosion at the Port Harcourt Shopping Mall left five persons critically wounded. The Port Harcourt mall explosion, which forced sudden closure of the outfit, started at the kitchen section. The affected victims whose hands, legs and some parts of their bodies were cut off are still at the hospital receiving treatments. The state had earlier in 2015 witnessed a gas explosion. In that incident, five persons were killed at Eliozu area in Port Harcourt when a gas retailer was refilling another cylinder and suddenly, the cylinder exploded killing the victims on the spot.

In Lagos State, a resident, Mr. Shina Ayanfe, said he does not use gas in his house anymore due to the fear of explosion, explaining that his neighbor’s wife died as a result of the incident.

“She had been complaining that her gas cylinder was giving her problems. So, she bought another one not knowing the new one was equally bad. Apparently, it was leaking gradually and you know it’s not everybody that has a strong sense of smell. She was trying to cook that morning when it exploded. She suffered severe pains as we rushed her to the hospital. At some point, we felt she was already responding to treatment but before we knew what was happening, she died,” he recalled.

In Owerri, Imo State, a thriving filling station situated along Okigwe Road, Orji, Owerri North Local Council recently witnessed a loud explosion arising from one of the gas cylinders in the premises, destroying the structures there. Many people were injured as well. Of course, the rebuilding cost a fortune.

Meanwhile, The Guardian investigations have shown that not many people who are into gas retail business or make use of cooking gas in their homes are aware of the safety rules they need to observe.

In Lagos for instance, almost every street has a gas retail outlet. But when one of the retailers in the Surulere area of the state was asked what was needed to start the business, she said: “You need a good location and a big cylinder. With that, your business has taken off as it is very easy to learn how to transfer from a big cylinder to a customer’s smaller one.” To him, anyone can run the business.

In Owerri, findings showed that cooking gas retailers are mainly found in locations that are easily accessible to residents like Tetlow and Okigwe roads not minding the risks involved.

A gas retailer in the area, Okechukwu Anoruo, who said he inherited the business from his late father, stated that he observes little or no rules.

“Gas is becoming a lucrative business in Owerri. What I can tell you is that only God is guiding us. We observe little or no safety measures here. You can see that it is an open place. The business is going on well. Students largely patronise us. They buy mostly small size cylinders. I have not recorded any explosion,” he said.

Some gas vendors in Jos, Plateau State, also told The Guardian that they do not observe any safety rules other than being careful because they know that gas is a highly flammable substance.

A gas retailer in Awka, Anambra State, who did not want to disclose her identity, said that she knew her business was not properly located but the profit she was making was keeping her at the location.

A dealer, Ngozi Okonkwo, whose outlet is located near a roadside akara (bean cake) fryer, expressed no feeling of facing imminent danger when approached.

During a visit to Bashorun area of Ibadan, a retailer, Mr. Innocent Obinna, said he only ensures there is no leakage from the gas cylinder.

“I only ensure that there is no leakage and oil in the gas cylinder both from the customer’s side and my side. I ensure that the environment is safe and there is no flammable substance around. The customer’s cylinder must not be rusted or ruptured anywhere. And the valve on the cylinder must be in a good condition,” he said.

Another vendor in the area, Ismail Olubode, however, said that as a safety measure, he always has water mixed with detergent in his shop in case of a fire outbreak.

A gas plant attendant at Jakande Estate Gate in Lagos said the plant has existed for five years now without any accident. He said: “We always check for any fault in our gas plant to avoid explosion because this plant is very close to where people live and trade. So, we can’t afford to cause any loss of lives and properties.

“But consumers need knowledge on how to maintain their gas at home. Most people just buy gas because it is very fast for cooking and cost-effective without having any knowledge on how to maintain their gas or check for leakage.”

One Mrs. Mirian Joy, who resides in the Ilasamaja area of the state, confirmed his claim. Joy said: “I have been using my gas for the past three years now and I have never for once checked for any leakage or any fault because it does not show any sign that it is faulty. I don’t even know how to check if my gas has a fault.”

Crackdown On Illegal Outlets Begins
Safety experts have blamed gas explosion incidents on negligence. They also justified the ongoing crackdown on illegal outlets.

The Zonal Operations Controller of the Department for Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Port Harcourt, Mr. Bassey Nkanga, condemned refilling of gas cylinders instantly at the outlets, noting that “people should drop their cylinders and go with refilled ones to enable government know the expired cylinders and withdraw them from circulation.”

He reiterated that gas operators are not supposed to operate within residential areas, adding that the Rivers State government and the agency were determined to rid the state of illegal gas outlets.

He also advised operators who do not have licences to do the right thing or leave the state, adding that the state government and the agency would set up a task force that would work round the clock to ensure that no illegal gas dealer remains in Rivers State.

According to him, safety requirements for the issuance of licence by the agency to people venturing into gas business include having good ventilation and capability to operate in safe manners.

He said: “The state government has come to work with us. Together we are setting up a task force that will go about ensuring that those operating without license are not allowed to operate because they are the ones that sell the product to illegal retailers who cause the major problems. We are also working with security agencies to ensure that those operating without licence are arrested. The jingles are on, warning them to leave the state or do the right thing.

“Government is doing anything possible to stop the use of expired gas cylinders. There is a plan that every cylinder that does not meet specific requirements will be pulled out of circulation and no longer be allowed to be used.”

He further disclosed that nine illegal gas plants and several other retail outlets were shut down in the last three weeks.

He added that there are physical checks on the appearances of the cylinders and also the use of instruments like the ultrasonic tool to test the standard of cylinders.

He urged the public to send information of any illegal gas operators to the DPR zonal office in Port Harcourt, assuring that actions would be taken without delay.

On his part, the state Commissioner for Energy, Dr. Peter Medee, said the state government was taking safety issues very seriously, adding that the government would not allow any illegal gas operator in the state. He decried that a lot of gas dealers were operating in the state illegally, saying they would surely be stopped.

Medee confirmed that a technical committee from the Ministry of Energy, security agencies and DPR has been set up to draw a template for the task force that would carry out the enforcement.

The Commissioner said the essence of the template was to ensure that the task force carries out their duties in line with the guidelines to avoid abuse and hijack of the process.

In Abia State, the Comptroller of the State Fire Service, Mr. Victor Gbaruko, said the Service would soon undertake what he called ‘Operation Show Your Approval’ to ensure that gas plants in the state are not only properly sited but also operate within the standards set by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

Also, before last year’s yuletide celebrations, the Umuahia Field Surveillance/Monitoring team of the DPR undertook an impromptu inspection of petrol stations in Abia State. Out of about 30 stations inspected, 15 were sealed for violating the operational regulations of the DPR including five gas plants that were sited within petrol stations without requisite approval.

In Ebonyi State, Governor David Umahi has also directed that all illegal gas stations in the state be shutdown.

Umahi, in a recent statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nweze, said the closure of the gas stations was necessary to forestall the possible outbreak of fire and ensure that Health, Safety and Environment regulation in the state conform to national and international standards in the oil and gas industry.

He directed that all gas stations and outlets must operate with the approval of the Ebonyi State Capital Territory Development Board (ACTDB) and Department of Petroleum Resources, (DPR) adding the government will deal with anyone who may flout the directive.