Delta Government Shuts Down Illegal LPG Facility in Asaba Due to Safety Issues

The Delta State Government has taken action to close an alleged illegal Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) facility under construction on Infant Jesus Road in Asaba due to increasing safety worries from the local community and doubts regarding regulatory adherence.

This decision was prompted by a petition from residents of Imade Osazee Street, located off Infant Jesus Road, who reached out to the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Abuja. They highlighted that the placement of the LPG plant next to residential properties was both unlawful and hazardous.

In response to the residents' concerns, Chief Peter Uviejitobor, the Commissioner for Oil and Gas, convened a meeting with the management of A.A. Rano Nigeria Limited at his Asaba office, where he ordered an immediate cessation of all construction activities at the site.

A reliable source within the ministry informed The Guardian that the project was halted due to its failure to secure the necessary gubernatorial approval.

During a visit to the site on Wednesday, officials from the Ministry of Oil and Gas had already placed a seal on the location, marked by a notice stating: 'Stop work. Development/construction without governor’s consent.'

Residents expressed their concern that the gas facility was nearing completion prior to the government intervening, raising alarms about the risk of a catastrophe. They referenced a recent LPG explosion in Agbor, Ika South Local Council, which resulted in numerous fatalities, as a chilling example of the potential hazards connected with inadequately positioned gas facilities.

In a formal petition directed to the NMDPRA's State Coordinator in Warri, which the agency has officially acknowledged, legal representatives for the residents, PJ Eleweke and Partners, argued that the construction of the project breaches established safety regulations and best practices within the industry.

The petition outlines that the LPG plant is situated directly behind an A.A. Rano filling station and is being constructed 'simultaneously and without regard to the necessary distance mandated by law,' indicating that the structure is 'less than five meters from the living spaces of residents.'

Furthermore, the petition alleges that an engineer on site suggested that the facility is linked to the A.A. Rano filling station and implied that its owner was 'influential' and had 'settled all regulatory authorities,' indicating that attempts to halt the operation would be futile.

The locals affirmed that such an establishment could not have legitimately secured authorization due to its location in a dense residential neighborhood. They are urging the NMDPRA to promptly investigate and suspend the project to prevent what they term an 'impending time bomb' that could jeopardize lives and property in the event of an explosion.

A concerned resident, who asked to remain anonymous, pointed out that the risk is exacerbated by the closeness of both the petrol station and the LPG facility to Infant Jesus Schools, which accommodates many children, including boarders.

'It is inherently unsafe to construct these types of operations in residential areas, especially one situated directly across from such a significant public school,' the resident stated.

The petition was also shared with numerous officials, including the Governor of Delta State, the Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Saidu Aliyu Mohammed; and other relevant commissioners and local council chairpersons.

However, in response to the situation, a senior management representative from A.A. Rano Nigeria Limited, who chose to remain unnamed, claimed that the company has indeed received approval for the project. They referenced an approval document—Approved site/ATC; NMDPRA/RON/DE/LTC.142771—issued in A.A. Rano Nigeria Limited’s name.