Abia state government, Thursday, started the enforcement of its resolve to clamp down on illegal gas plants in the state and roadside dealers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas(LPG) also known as Cooking Gas.
Towards achieving this, an illegal roadside gas dispensing station at POWA Shopping Plaza along Finbarrs by Bende Road Umuahia has been sealed.
Addressing newsmen during the exercise, the State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Solomon Ogunji who led a team of officials from the ministry to seal the roadside gas station, said the state government had earlier obtained a court injunction and sealed off the illegal roadside dispensing station noting that the owner disregarded court directive by reopening it thereby violating the decision of a court of competent jurisdiction.
Ogunji while noting that the business location of the gas dispensing retail outlet is being operated under dangerous circumstances without safety precautions,added that the outlet is dangerous to human health and contravenes the Abia State environmental laws.
He said the ministry will bring the necessary abatement and work according to the provisions of the law while the culprit will be made to face the full weight of the law.
The Commissioner while stating that there should be a minimum distance from residential areas in citing a gas station,further disclosed that the state government will further clampdown on all illegal roadside retailers and gas plant operators especially those situated in residential areas and which do not meet up with the necessary safety requirements adding that the move is aimed at safeguarding the lives of the people.
According to him,the state government would soon set up a task force to monitor and clamp down on all forms of illegal trade and businesses in the State pointing out that the government will continue to implement the law and mandate of the ministry.
Also speaking,the Director and Head of Department,Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Abia State Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ikechukwu Ukaegbu said the ministry swung into action to clampdown on the illegal roadside gas dispensing outlet after receiving several complaints of dispensing gas manually from one cylinder to the other noting that emissions released from the gas is both detrimental to human health and can spark off fire outbreak.
According to him, the culprit was invited severally by the ministry while abatement notice and subsequent court order were issued against him.
He said the culprit has no permit, environmental health assessment nor DPR and has flouted a valid court order and will be made to face the wrath of the law.
Narrating their ordeal to Journalists,some residents and traders around POWA shop along Finbarrs by Bende road ,including Chidera Constance and Pricilia Anene, commended the Ministry of Environment for coming to their rescue by sealing off the shop and urged them to also beam their searchlights in various parts of the Umuahia metropolis where illegal roadside gas dispensing outlets are located.
According to them,the effect of the gas emissions from the illegal gas dispensing outlet has affected their health negatively to the extent that they have been on constant medical attention adding that they have pleaded severally with the operator to relocate the business to no avail.
The operator of the illegal roadside dispensing gas outlet, Mr. Michael Uwaezoke, when accosted for an interview with Journalists,declined comments on the matter.
