19 illegal Liquified Petroleum Gas, LPG, and category D cooking gas outlets have been sealed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, in Delta State.
Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday in Warri, the state coordinator of the regulatory body, Victor Ohwodiasa revealed that the illegal gas outlets were sealed within the past two weeks.
According to the coordinator, the illegal LPG nad category D cooking gas outlets were shut in Orerokpe, Ogwashi-Ukwu and Warri and its environs of the state.
Ohwodiasa said the illegal gas outlets were shut over offences ranging from lack of prerequisite approvals to operating such facilities in unsafe locations.
The NMDPRA coordinator pointed out that the essence of the exercise was not to frustrate the small scale gas business owners but to ensure they operate in a safe and secured environment.
He appealed to landlords not to allocate portions to the LPG category D operators who want to do illegal business on their properties.
While noting that the essence is to prevent possible fire outbreak that could destroy lives and properties of the operators and the neighbours, Ohwodiasa assured of the commitment of NMDPRA, to ensuring lives and properties were adequately protected.
The coordinator said the regulatory authority would continue to sustain the exercise in the state and assured that anybody found wanting would face the full wrath of the law.
He also said that any offender that refused to relocate his facility would be handed over to the relevant security agencies for prosecution.
The coordinator called on members of the public to report anyone transferring cooking gas from one cylinder to another to the NMDPRA for prompt action.
