Two gas explosions which occurred in quick succession in Lagos State last week underscore the danger of the growing proliferation of gas plants and retail shops in the country, and the need to ensure strict adherence to safety standards in their operations.
The first incident occurred in the Magodo area of Lagos when a gas cylinder exploded at a gas company on the popular CMD Road. The second happened a few hours later at a gas retail shop in Badagry. At the end of the day, seven persons lost their lives, while many others suffered injuries.
While the deliberate attempts to make gas more available for domestic use is necessary and well appreciated, it must be noted that this comes with its own peculiar challenges. There are issues with the siting of the gas plants and retail outlets, the regulation of their operations and the enforcement of safety standards.
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) is charged with the responsibility of issuing licences for gas plants and retail outlets while the various state governments inspect the designated premises and outlets to ensure that they are suitable for the purpose. What this implies is that there is need for strict collaboration between the two to ensure that infractions are reduced to the barest minimum.
Gas is a highly inflammable fuel which needs careful handling. Sadly, its sellers oftentimes cut corners, while those who have the statutory responsibility to stop them, sometimes turn the blind eye to enrich their own pockets. This is the perfect recipe for the disasters that sometimes happen at the gas plants and shops, leading to avoidable and regrettable loss of lives and property.
In the Magodo case for example, the particular plant had reportedly been shut thrice for operating below the required standard, but on each occasion, it was reopened. Now, it is necessary to ask who gave the permission for the reopening on each of those occasions? And, for what consideration? Or, are we to believe that what was wrong on each occasion it was ordered shut was corrected before it was reopened? It will be very bad if no one is made to pay for these unfortunate incidents. The relevant agencies must carefully investigate the explosions to determine their causes and how to avert a recurrence.
In the long run, stringent safety procedures must be instituted for gas plants and retail outlets. Proper attention must be paid to the siting of the facilities at specified distances from residential areas and crowded places. This should be strictly enforced. All safety checks, especially relating to the installation of fire-fighting and other safety equipment, must be ensured before licences are granted for operations. There should also be standard operating procedures which must be adhered to at all times by the operators. There should be constant checks on the installations to ensure strict adherence to regulations.
Government must move quickly to check the growing proliferation of gas retail outlets in residential areas. In most cities nowadays, and especially Lagos, it is not unusual to find gas shops jostling for space amongst residential apartments. This is inimical to the health and safety of the residents of such premises. Gas sales and operations in residential areas portend great danger for life and property as we have seen each time the facilities explode.
We urge regulatory authorities in all states and local governments to rise to the occasion on this public safety need and ensure that they do the needful at all times to secure the life and property under their care. As is the case in many fields of endeavour, there are enough laws and regulations in our statute books to guide the operations of gas plants and shops. The problem, most times, is the failure to enforce such regulations. This is where we should focus our attention.
Ultimately, to significantly check the danger posed by gas plants and cylinders, the country should work towards the piping of gas to homes and industries where it is needed. This is the standard practice in developed countries as it reduces the chances of gas accidents. Our political authorities must consider this point seriously and wake up to the responsibility, so that what nature has given us freely and abundantly as a very efficient and potentially cheap fuel will not pose avoidable danger to our people.