By Wachukwu Confidence and Obaji Akpet
Petrol stations are Sales facilities where Petroleum products are retailed. Their combustible nature, though in various degrees, makes them dangerous therefore eliciting extra care in its handling.
Some of the petroleum products that are commonly used in homes, industries and for automobiles are fuel, kerosene, diesel, thinner, cooking gas to mention but a few.
There is no gainsaying the fact that petroleum products are of valuable importance to our industrial sector as well as domestic purposes. This is to the extent that their benefits to humans are holistic. They are invaluable in transportation whether land, water or air transportation systems. Most machines cannot function without petroleum products. In Nigeria where there is epileptic power supply, generating sets that run on either gas of fuel (PMS) become the only lifeline to bank on.
True, the importance of petroleum product cannot be over emphasized but they could also be hazardous too when not properly managed. The negative effect, of the petroleum products can cause loss of lives or have serious health implications on human existence. Again, the effect of its mismanagement can destroy property of great importance in few minutes, especially where there is outbreak fueled by either PMS, cooking gas and other highly inflammable petroleum product. This underscores the reason caution must always be taken by everyone directly or indirectly involved which includes the consumers or buyers, the retailers selling these petroleum products, the people residing in areas where these petroleum stations are situated. Above all, it is against government policies as regards urban planning which is geared towards security of lives and properties to ensure safe and healthy living among its citizens.
It is against this backdrop that the governments all over the world including Imo State set up regulatory bodies charged with the duty of regulating and controlling the activities and operations of these gas stations in terms of location, sales, transportation of the products and final consumers.
Imo as a State is not only a consumer or user of these gas as seen mostly used in homes, cars and for industrial purposes but a producer of it too owing to the states richness in natural gas and oil, hence because of its possible danger both in its production and consumption, measures have to be put in place by the regulating agencies to streamline the activities of retailers of these products.
It is also in this regard that the Government of Imo State, in its bid to forestall any unforeseen mishap, which is usually calamitous, recently sprang into action and sealed up a gas station opposite Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) located along Akwakuma Road, Owerri. This is not only commendable but a step in the right direction.
The Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha who was represented by his Deputy, Prince Eze Madumere posited that apart from calls the government through various channels received from residents of the area, we could not have allowed a gas station to be located in a densely populated area because of the danger it portends on the safety of the people and property, which could spark off uncontrollable fire outbreak. Speaking further, he stressed that first charge of every government is security of life and property, which is connected to maintenance of law and order.
The government action is not unconnected with owners of gas station’s flagrant and reckless disregard to the laws of the land. The same filling station failed to secure approval from Owerri Capital Development Authority. The owner who is still at large went ahead to construct the filling station, which was sealed for violation of the extant laws regulating the location of such business outfits.
The violator in question was said to have also carelessly destroyed government infrastructure as his workers under his instructions also destroyed the median. This is one act of vandalism with chains of environmental effects, which ranges from accidents, untold traffic logjam and ultimately ravaging flood. More so, some business buildings either for lack of attention or for abrasive intent encroach on green-belt thereby defacing the master plan of the city and possible expansion to contain future traffic owing to natural growth in population.
On his part, the General Manager of OCDA, Barrister Nwogu also submitted that his Authority was unaware of the approval of the site for the gas station, even as he added that sealing up such places remains the natural course of action to avoid wanton destruction of lives and property.
This proactive step by government of the current administration is a clear indication of government’s concern for the safety of the citizens, which remains the first charge of every government. This action will further serve as a deterrent to others nursing similar plans to establish power stations without following due process. Best practices must be observed in all facets thereby eliciting need to carry out proper impact assessment in relation to the environment and the populace.
Therefore, while saluting the government of Imo State for putting the people first, we also call for review of other such location of business centers that pose danger to human lives for a possible relocation. Truly emotion is adorable but can be calamitous when misplaced in its exercise.
* Wachukwu Confidence and Obaji Akpet are National Youth Service (NYSC) serving in Imo State