Kaduna state governor, Nasiru el-Rufai, has ordered the closure of all gas refill stations located within residential areas in the state.
The Herald gathered that El-Rufai gave the order on Monday, January 6, due to the gas explosion that rocked the state on Saturday.
According to him, gas refilling is a high-risk activity that should be undertaken only in industrial layouts where all the safety measures can be put in place.
He said: “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.
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“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. For now, they are shut down.
“You should report to Kaduna Environmental Protection Agency 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, we have already given directives that all such outlet should be shut down.”
The governor paid a condolence visit to the family of Mallam and some victims of the gas explosion who are receiving treatment at St Gerald hospital, Kaduna.
Earlier, The Herald reported that the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) threatened to sanction all unlicensed LPG retail outlets and operators with stiff penalties.
The DPR North West Zonal Operations Controller, Mr Isa Tafida, made this known to newsmen in Kaduna while reacting to Saturday’s gas explosion at Sabon Tasha, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The gas explosion killed five persons, including a professor, and destroyed valuable properties on Jan. 4. The Police in a statement, after the incident in Kaduna, confirmed that five persons were killed, while four others sustained injuries.