Ekpo: FG to Encourage Direct Gas Delivery to Curb Accidents

*Umahi visits scene of Rivers carnage, blames drivers’ recklessness

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has  visited the site of the gas explosion at Ita Oshin in Abeokuta, Ogun State, which resulted in loss of life and destruction of property.
At the site, he stressed that government was encouraging the direct piping of gas into the homes of Nigerians to avoid such future accidents like the one in Ogun which occurred when a truck conveying Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) experienced brake failure, crashed into the road barricade and caught fire.
On the minister’s entourage were the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, members of the minister’s technical team and officials of the agency.

The minister was received by the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, who  stressed the importance of a thorough investigation to unravel the root cause of the accident and implementation of recommendations made to forestall future occurrences.
The minister commiserated with families affected by the tragedy and Gasco Marine Ltd, owners of the gas truck and commended the swift response of  fire service personnel, and first responders in the aftermath of the gas explosion.

Ekpo said going forward, rather than trucking to end users, the regulators will emphasise issuance of distribution licences that will ensure that licensed distributors invest in the installation of pipelines to deliver gas directly to end users.
He said the shift from trucking to pipeline transportation would not only enhance safety, but improve efficiency and reliability in delivering gas to consumers.
“I am committed to growing the gas space, but however I can assure you that every effort is being made to prevent such accidents as this one from occurring in the future,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has visited the site of a tanker inferno that led to fatalities and left several vehicles in flames in an accident between a tanker truck driver carrying petroleum products and a trailer driver at the Indoroma-Aleto bridge, East-West road, Eleme in Rivers State.
Umahi said that it was the recklessness of the two drivers that caused the avoidable disaster, according to a statement by his spokesman, Uchenna Orji.
 He therefore called for enhanced enforcement of driving rules and road safety checks, especially as regards drivers of heavy-duty vehicles.

He argued that it was wrong to blame Renolds Construction Company, (RCC) for the accident, describing it as a misrepresentation of facts. He maintained that reports and eye witnesses’ accounts showed that it was a case of drivers’ recklessness and impatience  that caused the incident.
“The RCC, they are trying, they are doing well. But my visit is going to ensure that they open the construction in a number of sections.

“That is what they must have to do. But the quality of what they are doing is quite commendable. But they must listen to us and open the construction. Whether they are delaying or not delaying has nothing to do with the accident,” the minister added.