The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has shut down 85 Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plants operating illegally in Lagos.
The plants were shut down between January and October 2020, according to the Zonal Operations Controller, DPR, Lagos, Mr. Ayorinde Cardoso, who spoke with journalists during a public sensitisation exercise on safe usage of LPG.
The sensitisation programme was organised by the agency in some parts of Lagos Mainland on Wednesday.
According to the DPR official, the LPG (cooking gas) plants were shut down for not complying with international safety standards and operating without approval or licence from the DPR.
He said the move was to prevent the occurrence of gas explosions and fire incidents in the state.
According to Cardoso, the agency would continue its clampdown on illegal plants while at the same time sensitising the public on the need for safe usage and distribution of gas.
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“We are doing this sensitisation to tell the public that it is safe to use gas. It is an efficient and clean source of energy if used appropriately.
“We want to bring gas sector to the citizens and deepen utilisation of LPG for job creation and national development which is the aspiration of the Federal Government.
“We will be doing this exercise continuously in various parts of the state,” he stated.
He said the government, through the National Gas Expansion Programme, was committed to making gas accessible and affordable for Nigerians.
He disclosed that the agency recently brought out new guidelines to encourage investors adding that “anybody that wants to operate in the sector should follow the guidelines.”
Cardoso said that the DPR was collaborating with the Lagos State Government and other stakeholders to improve safety in gas storage, sales and distribution.
