From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi State Controller of the Department of Petroleum Resources ( DPR), Engineer Idris Mohammed Zangi has warned operators of Cooking Gas Stations and Petrol Stations across the state to adhere strictly to rules and procedures to avoid being sanctioned.
The Controller’s warning is coming on the heels of recent petroleum tanker Explosion in Felele end of Lokoja Metropolis in which over 28 persons lost their lives and properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed.
The Controller , while speaking to our correspondent in his office in Lokoja, decried the incessant incidences of leaking tanks of Cooking Gas Stations which has posed serious threats to the Citizenry.
He said he will not hesitate to apply sledge hammers against the erring operators.
Engineer Zangi who lamented at the flagrant disobedience of the operators to the rules and regulations guiding the siting, operation, management and sustenance of a gas station , insisted that he will not rest on his oars to ensure the right things are done across the state.
He said , before his arrival in the state , most of the stations have no operating licences, code of operation as stations were littered within the residential areas, markets and School premises.
According to him, most stations were built at inappropriate locations including market places , residential and schools premises causing untold hazards and fears to the residents.
He added that on assumption, he embarked on aggressive sensitisation using mass media and also toured stations across the three senatorial districts of the state to get first hand information about their operations.
He noted that those who were found culpable were directed to get their documents regularised to avoid being blacklisted .
He vowed to punish marketers fond of circumventing the lay down regulations and procedures, advising the staff to join the crusade or they should be ready to be booted out of service.
” When I came here, things were not properly done. It seems nobody was in-charge. Every body was doing things in his own ways. But I said the whole things must stop. We have to enforce orders for the safety of our people or we have no business being here.” He declared.
While calling on the people to promptly report any infractions at any station to the office to avoid being caught off guard , commended the security agencies especially members of the Civil Defence and Safety Corps in his drive to enforce sanity in the industry.
