The Delta State Government has sealed an alleged illegal liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) plant under construction in Asaba, mounting safety concerns raised by residents and questions over regulatory compliance.
The facility, located along Infant Jesus Road, was shut after a petition by residents of Imade Passed Street to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), warning that the gas plant was being built dangerously close to residential buildings.
Government Orders Immediate Halt to Construction
Following the petition, the Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Chief Peter Uviejitobor, reportedly summoned the management of A.A. Rano Nigeria Limited and ordered an immediate stop to construction activities.
A senior source within the ministry told newsmen that the project lacked the mandatory governor’s consent, a requirement for such developments in the state.
When journalists visited the site on Wednesday, officials of the Ministry of Oil and Gas had already sealed the premises. A notice posted at the location read: “Stop work. Development/construction without governor’s consent.”
Residents said construction had reached an advanced stage before the intervention, heightening fears of a possible disaster.
Residents Cite Explosion Risks, Regulatory Breaches
In their pewtition, solicitors to the residents, PJ Eleweke and Partners, argued that the LPG plant violated statutory safety standards and industry best practices.
According to excerpts of the petition, the facility situated behind an A.A. Rano filling station was constructed without observing legally required setbacks. The document stated that the structure was less than five metres from residents’ bedrooms, a situation described as extremely dangerous.
Residents also referenced the recent LPG explosion in Agbor, Ika South Local Council, which claimed several lives, as evidence of the risks associated with poorly sited gas facilities.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said concerns were worsened by the proximity of the LPG plant and petrol station to Infant Jesus Schools, which hosts a large population of students, including boarders.
“It is inherently dangerous to build such facilities in a residential area, more so directly opposite a major public school,” the resident said.
Company Insists It Has Approval
However, a senior management staff member of A.A. Rano Nigeria Limited, who declined to be named, maintained that the company obtained approval for the project.
The official cited an approval reference—Approved site/ATC; NMDPRA/RON/DE/LTC.142771—issued in the company’s name as evidence of regulatory clearance.
The petition was copied to the Governor of Delta State, the Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, the Commissioners for Oil and Gas and Environment, the Asaba Capital Territory Development Agency, and the Executive Chairman of Oshimili South Local Council, urging urgent intervention to avert what residents described as an “impending time bomb.”