By Adedapo Adesanya
The Ogun State government has suspended the sale of industrial gas in the state as a result of the recent multiple gas explosions.
This is being done to ensure the safety of lives and property of residents, according to the state Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr Femi Ogunbanwo.
The Commissioner made this known during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abeokuta, where the government engaged them in order to find a lasting solution to the problem.
Mr Ogunbanwo noted that all major stakeholders in the gas sector were expected to abide by the directives, saying, “Anyone found guilty of selling adulterated gas products or violating safety protocols would have the full weight of the law to contend with.”
He reiterated that the Ogun State Governor, Mr Dapo Abiodun, has been in consultations with the federal authorities, charging relevant agencies of government and the Nigeria Police to move around the state to investigate and bring to book whoever is found culpable of any sharp practices or negligence that could cause further occurrence.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya, described the spate of gas-related accidents as an ugly development and said all hands must be on deck to nip it in the bud.
Earlier, a team consisting of Messrs Ogunbanwo and Oresanya, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr Rasaki Ojetola and other government officials visited different sites of the explosions and some gas plant outlets, which necessitated the seal of two of the plants in Omida and Idi-Ori in Abeokuta metropolis.
Modupe Gbadeyanka