How gas outlets endanger residential areas

Cooking, a major task in most Nigerian homes, mostly done with firewood and kerosene stoves in the past, has gradually embraced cooking gas as a faster, cleaner and safe means. But the question on the minds of many is how safe it is as there is a rise in the proliferation of gas outlets within […]

Cooking, a major task in most Nigerian homes, mostly done with firewood and kerosene stoves in the past, has gradually embraced cooking gas as a faster, cleaner and safe means. But the question on the minds of many is how safe it is as there is a rise in the proliferation of gas outlets within residential areas across the country?  Weekend Trust highlights the issues.

In the past, cooking gas was seen as a luxury by many, but today, it is easily accessed by all, notwithstanding your social class.

Gas retailing is no longer a reserved business as the growing demand has made refilling one of the most attractive small businesses today, with outlets springing up daily in remote and urban areas, ignoring the dangers associated with this trend.

Gas refilling is not allowed just anywhere; hence regulations require adequate open space, proper ventilation and safe distances from homes, schools and busy public areas. However, within communities across the country, gas outlets are lined up alongside residential buildings, stalls, schools, hotels, malls, and sometimes, office spaces.

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The sight of retailers selling gas in cylinders and tanks are ubiquitous despite the dangers associated with the commodity.

While residents say they provide critical services as there are few fuel stations who sell Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for cooking, a resident of Kuje Area Council, Babatunde Ibrahim, told Weekend Trust that his community in Sector 1 is home to local retailers, but it is rare to witness any safety concern from those selling it.

“It is true that there are safety concerns about the proximity of these gas retailing outlets within residential areas, but they are mostly the closest to us. Fuel stations that sell are few and located at far distances, so they are not always a first choice for people who are not mobile or without transport fare to patronise them although theirs is cheaper.

“While an outbreak or explosion can damage people’s homes, it rarely emanates from retailers close to homes,” he noted.

He added that the retailers provide critical services to their immediate communities and are cautious of the dangers; and therefore, take all the necessary steps to prevent any incident.

Also, a resident of Lugbe, Moses Orjime, noted that the government should put in measures and ensure enforcement when it comes to the rise of gas outlets within residential areas.

According to him, the government should ensure that bigger retailers provide and adhere to all safety measures while setting up their plants.

“Gas is dangerous; it can cause explosion, so it is important that safety measures are put in place to protect those close to where it is sold. But the truth is that we can’t do without them due to the easy access they give everyone, especially the poor in the society.

”How many fuel stations sell gas? And those specifically for that are few or non-existent in some places,” he said.

A gas retailer, Ifeanyi Tochuchwu, told Weekend Trust that selling in communities involves registering with associations who monitor the area before one is allowed to set up.

“Here in Lugbe, we have an association you must first register with. They come to inspect how safe the place is before you are allowed to set up. They have a taskforce that enforces the safety measures before approval. And I know they communicate with the Fire Service and other regulatory agencies.

“To start the business, you would engage in training for a month on how to handle a fire extinguisher and other safety equipment. Also, to prevent overheating from the sun, those using tanks can’t utilise all the available tanks.

“The idea is that a tank storing gas needs to have a water hose on it that will be pouring water, especially during the heat season. But if that is not in place, a tank that has a 2,000-tonne capacity will always refill 1,500. This will protect the commodity from much competitive with the hot tank during this period,” Tochuchwu said.

Similarly, in Katsina State, the proliferation of domestic gas outlets is evident along IBB Way, Murtala Muhammed Way, Batsari Road and expanding residential layouts, where urban growth and demand for LPG are outpacing regulation. It has spread across many densely populated parts of the metropolis, especially in areas where commercial activities mix with residential housing.

 In places like Kofar Marusa and Sabon Unguwa, among others, roadside LPG vendors and mini refill points operate within neighbourhood shops. These outlets are often located close to houses, shops and traffic hubs, sometimes within residential compounds or along roadsides near schools, mosques and markets.

It was observed that most of these outlets were set up in converted shops rather than purpose-built plants. Unfortunately, many of them lack basic firefighting equipment, such as fire extinguishers and temperature gauges.

According to a resident of Fagachi Estate, Aminu Kabiru, the location of these gas outlets reflects a shift from centralised gas plants to decentralised neighbourhood refilling points. He added that although these outlets are vital, poor safety measures have exposed many residents to danger.

Another resident of Kofar Sauro, Malama Bintu Zubar, said users had been taking safety for granted. She said it’s worrisome that gas refilling outlets are managed by individuals with little or no knowledge of safety procedures, adding that many of the outlets lack basic requirements, indicating that they operate without proper regulatory oversight.

“Anybody who understands the potential danger will be concerned about the way these outlets are being managed. They are often wrongly located in unsuitable places. God forbid, if anything goes wrong, we could all be at risk,” she said.

In Calabar, where there was gas explosion recently, which injured over 60 persons, residents decried the establishment of domestic gas outlets in residential areas. They frowned at government’s lack of concern towards the trend despite the many risks involved.

In most streets in Calabar and other major towns of Cross River State, there is a proliferation of domestic gas outlets.

Residents noted that this trend exposed their lives to many risks, and accused the authorities of turning the other way over the development.

According to Amos Akpan, a teacher, apart from big gas stations, there are small shops within residential areas. He noted that gas outlets situated within residential areas were dangerous because most of the gas cylinders used these days have expired and the dispensers are hardly aware.

Akpan said, “The authorities should focus on small retail outlets located inside residential areas because they are very dangerous.”

A traditional ruler, Etinyin Ekanem Esin, whose house was affected by the Calabar gas explosion, frowned at the trend, calling for restriction of such outlets from residential neighbourhoods as is done in civilised countries.

“We were lucky that lives were not lost during the gas explosion, however, properties lost or damaged are also painful to their owners.

“The government should discourage the location of gas stations or retail outlets in residential areas,’ he stressed.

Another resident, Mr Anthony Ita Etim a public commentator and author, notes that most of the gas outlets in residential areas do not have functional fire extinguishers, calling on government to restrict vendors from citing gas outlets in residential areas. “Government should also restrict establishment of petrol stations in residential areas.  These gas outlets and fuel stations in residential areas are risky. It can damage and cause havoc. Government should ban gas retail business in residential areas.”

Early last month, fire destroyed goods worth millions of naira and left traders devastated. This was as a result of a gas leak from a nearby gas retail shop in Calabar South.

Francis Akpan, a witness, said the luck was that thefire happened late in the night.

He expressed worry that such misfortunes were very imminent in the town, and called for a check on owners of such shops to have controls to check gas leakages.

A gas retailer, Brownson Ben on Ambo Street Calabar, explained why they prefer to be in residential areas.

“We want to be closer to the customers who buy small kilograms of gas.”

The director-general of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, Antigha Gill, called for stricter regulation of petrol stations and gas outlets in residential areas. He warned that the growing presence of fuel outlets in densely populated neighbourhoods poses serious threats to lives and property.

“Fuel stations located within residential areas increase the risk of fire outbreaks, environmental hazards and accidents that can lead to severe casualties,” he said.

Similarly, in Benue State, safety concerns have continued to rise over the issue. The location of some domestic cooking gas outlets within residential neighbourhoods has continued to raise safety concerns among residents despite growing demand for cleaner energy alternatives.

Our correspondent reports that liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) retail points, ranging from small refill shops to larger outlets, are increasingly being located close to homes, markets and roadside clusters, often without clear adherence to safety regulations.

Residents in parts of Makurdi and other urban centres in the state think the trend, driven by the rising adoption of gas for cooking, has exposed living spaces to potential fire hazards and explosions, especially in densely populated areas.

For instance, areas such as Modern Market Road, Barracks Road, Wadata, David Mark Bypass and BNARDA, among others, indicated the proximity of some outlets to residential spaces.

Some residents have expressed fears that many of these gas outlets, operated in converted shops or makeshift structures, lack basic safety features such as proper ventilation, fire extinguishers and safe cylinder handling systems.

Job Jaccinta, who lives in the Nyiman community close to one of such outlets, said she often got scared over strange noises emanating from the retail gas outlet around her vicinity.

“There has not been any case of explosion for the over seven years I have lived here,” she said.

Similarly, Enewa Adoyi, a resident close to Bolek Fuel Station, where cooking gas is sold, said the outlet felt secure but not enough to avert any danger for people living around the area.

Adoyi expressed fear that in the event of any explosion, residents within the vicinity might become victims.

“Remember that such incident happened in Bolek, situated near the state’s university, some years ago. Many residents could have been affected except that the station was a bit distant from homes,” she added.

Our correspondent reports that in 2019, at least seven people were injured after a gas tanker exploded at the premises of the Bolek petrol filling station situated opposite the Benue State University’s (BSU) College of Health Sciences in Makurdi.

The tanker exploded around 6:10pm, just a few minutes after it discharged gas at the station. The victims of the explosion included two staff of the fuel station, two undergraduates of BSU and three other customers who were waiting to be attended to at the filling station when the incident occurred.

Some respondents who spoke to Weekend Trust warned that weak enforcement of location and operational guidelines could undermine safety as they maintained the need for regulatory standards requiring gas plants and refill points to maintain specified distances from residential buildings and public space.

 

We operate within safety limits – Retailers

However, a gas outlet operator around the BNARDA community, Fidelis Abe, said they operated within safety limits, adding, “We don’t take anything for granted here. We also have fire extinguishers in place,” Abe said.

Meanwhile, officials in the state’s Fire Service and environmental health sector could not be reached for their comments at the time of filing this report.

When Weekend Trust tried to reach out to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on efforts it is putting in place to protect communities from the activities of gas sellers, the number of its spokesperson, George Ene-Ita wasn’t going through and he did not respond to text messages sent to him.

 

Contributions from Ibrahim Musa Giginyu, Katsina, Eyo Charles, Calabar, Hope Abah, Makurdi