Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state on Monday ordered the closure of all gas retailing and decanting outlets located within residential areas in the state, while appealing to residents to report such illegal outlet for immediate action.
This is just as the Kaduna state Police Command identified and released the names of five of the six people killed in Saturday’s gas explosion in Sabo Tasha, Kaduna, while quantifying the property loss as worth N16.4 million
The Department of Petroleum Resources had on Sunday declared that the gas retailing outlet was operating illegally without license, but Governor el-Rufai who visited scene of the gas explosion at Sabon Tasha, said the gas plants, gas retailers and decanting outlets would be relocated to industrial layouts.
“It is most unfortunate that this incident has happened. It is further proof and evidence that this is high risk activity that should not be allowed to be located in residential areas. We will relocate them, we will give them land in industrial areas where adequate precautions to prevent things like this will be put in place.
“But for now, we have to get all these gas refilling plants within the metropolis and towns relocated. We are mapping all of them, we have already given directives that all such outlet should be shut down,,” the Governor said, while urging residents to report anyone found refilling gas within residential areas.
“You should report to Kaduna Environmental Protection Agency (KASUPDA) so that measures can be taken to chase them out. While the person might be doing it for money, but you will be the victims. So report to KASUPDA or KEPA or write directly to me. It is my duty to ensure that everyone is safe. In residential areas like this, it is not acceptable to have this kind of facility,” he said.
El-Rufai paid condolence visit to the family of Prof. Simon Malam who died in the incident and also visited victims of the gas explosion receiving treatment at St Gerald Hospital, Kaduna. He prayed for the souls of those who died and quick recovery of those in hospitals.
Police identify 6 victims, say N16.4m property destroyed
The Kaduna state Police Command in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo on Monday said that five males and another person lost their lives to the explosion, while quantifying the properties destroyed by the explosion and subsequent inferno to be worth N16.4 million.
“The death toll has increased to six from the five persons already mentioned in the earlier statement. The Command has in the course of investigation identified five of the deceased victims as; Prof. Malam Simon (male), Wale Ajayi (male), Daniel Peter (male), Victor Asoegwu (male) and Michael Ernest (male).
“Properties valued at N16,402,300 only, have been burnt in the four shops affected by the fire. The Commissioner of Police, Ali Aji Janga expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and assured the public that, the Command is investigating the root cause of the incident and will ensure justice in accordance with the law,” DSP Sabo said.
DPR set to dislodge illegal gas facilities
Following the gas explosion, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) is set to dislodge illegal gas facilities and prosecute perpetrators.
The DPR Zonal Operation Controller, Kaduna Zone, Isa Tafida, while condoling with victims of the gas explosion, lamented that the gas retailer operated illegally without even category D license. He urged investors, gas plant operators and gas retailers to obtain the required license that would ensure safe handling of gas to avoid such accidents.
Tafida, who extended sympathy and condolence to the families of the victim, said, “the outcome of the preliminary investigations states that; the facility is an illegal gas retailing vendor that engages in illegal storage, decanting and sales of LPG (cooking) and acetylene (industrial gases), that the operator of that illegal facilities are unknown to the Department, that the facility is not licensed by DPR.”
He said the Department has variously warned members of the public not to patronise the illegal operators, and warned such illegal operators to follow the laid down rules and regulation to ensure safe handling of gas considering its volatility.
“Gas retailers who do not have category D license for retailing LPG are desperate for money. LPG is new source of money, gas cooking is faster and cleaner but the public need to be aware that it has to be handled with caution. Investors should follow the rules and regulation and do it in line with best practices. Last year, we licensed 38 LPG plants in Kaduna state,” Tafida said.
