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No licence for illegal fuel, gas stations next year –DPR

No licence for illegal fuel, gas stations next year –DPR

By Sunmola Olowookere & Kemi Olatunde
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Petrol and gas stations whose operations constitute danger to human lives across Ondo State will not have their licences renewed after their expiration, The Hope has exclusively learnt.

The measure is to avert disasters and protect lives and properties of the citizens.

The Operations Controller, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in the state, Mr. Oseni Mukaila Adewale expressed grave concern over the upsurge of many petroleum and gas stations located within residential areas in the state.

Adewale assured the public that the licences of such petroleum and gas stations would not be renewed in 2020 when they are due for renewal.

He also frowned at the presence of small retail shops littering the nooks and crannies of the state which he insisted are illegal and operating at their own peril.

He advised gas retailers to adopt the practice of exchanging cylinders with customers as against the dangerous process of decanting gas from one cylinder to the other, warning that it could lead to fire outbreak.

He said that when he was transferred to Akure, he discovered that none of the gas shops had operational license and DPR had to close them down. He added that they were invited for a meeting where they were educated on the danger of non obtaining licences.

He stated that subsequently 109 gas shop operators obtained DPR license after the enlightenment.

He urged members of the public to formally complain when they observed that the siting of any petrol or gas stations poses danger to their environment and promise that they would act on such petitions.

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He assured that the approval of such a station would be withdrawn if the complaint is made at the onset and the concerns of the complainant are found to be genuine after investigation.

He outlined the process they go through before approval is given to a petrol or gas stations as follows; approved building plan, fire report from Fire Service, police report, an Environmental Impact Assessment report if the petrol that would be stored would be above 270,000 litres, clearance letter from Ministry of Lands and Housing and proof of land ownership.

For operating any level of gas station, he said that an Environmental Impact Assessment report must be done.

He allayed people’s fear on number of the petrol and gas stations that abounds in the Akure metropolis and their sitings in some busy and crowded areas of the metropolis.

He assured that the DPR monitor these stations and ensure that they construct their stations according to the laid down specifications and regulations.

He stated that many groups and government establishments collaborate in this effort and that each state must have its master plan of what could be in a particular area.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Environment, Mr Funso Esan explained that it is important that owners of both petrol and gas stations to visit the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to determine the appropriate place to site the stations after which the Environment Ministry carries out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before the commencement of work on the sites.

While frowning at the attitude of those who don’t follow due process in putting up these stations, he revealed that government is prepared to make them do the needful for the benefit of the people of the state.

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Lamenting the high rate of siting such stations in inappropriate places, he noted that its effects could be dangerous and added that they should not be seen in residential areas due to their highly inflammable state in cases of fire outbreak.

According to him; “indiscriminate siting of filling station is not good for the environment as it has consequences when it is not in an appropriate place. In a planned society, there are designated areas for certain purposes.”

An Environmental Health officer, Mrs Foluke Akande explained that gas stations were been approved by Federal Government to eradicate the use of firewood and kerosene in the society.

While arguing that the stations are not indiscriminately sited, she stated that none of them can be put in place without getting the necessary approval from the appropriate quarters except the illegal ones(those without safety measures).

She noted that they can operate within residential areas so as to achieve FG’s objectives especially on the eradication of illegal mouth to mouth filling of gas without safety measures.

Speaking on petrol stations, she attributed the indiscriminate location of these stations to lack of proper physical planning saying “there is a particular number of kilometers which should be between two stations but these days, we see them everywhere.”

An environmentalist who craved anonymity noted that its effects is devastating on the part of both the government and the people saying “with the proliferation everywhere on the street, there is the possibility of fire explosion as evidenced in Akure(arakale) few years ago.

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“Government has made several attempts to curb it but the involvement of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has jeopardized such efforts as the DPR gathered the illegal gas station retailers, give them some training and allow them to operate without necessarily checking the mode of their operation.”

However, he advised government to proffer solution to the problem by calling stakeholders to order.

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No licence for illegal fuel, gas stations next year –DPR

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