Determined to halt the spate of gas explosion in Ogun and save lives, the state government has put a temporary stop to the sale of industrial gas in the state.
The Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mr Femi Ogunbanwo disclosed this during a stakeholders meeting in Abeokuta, the state capital on Friday.
The meeting held a bit late due to another explosion which occurred at a yard of a construction company at Onikoko area of Abeokuta in which two persons were injured.
A welding gas kept in the yard had exploded also shattering glasses of windows of nearby buildings and walls.
At the meeting, stakeholders in the retailing of industrial gas sector told the state government what could be the likely causes of the explosion, and the state government said it would start investigation immediately into the causes working with the stakeholders.
Meanwhile, Ogunbanwo noted that all major stakeholders in the gas sector were expected to abide by the directives, saying, “Anyone found guilty of selling adulterated gas products or violating safety protocols would have full weight of the law to contend with.”
He added that the state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun had been in consultations with the federal authorities, charging relevant agencies of government and the Nigerian Police to move round the nooks and crannies of the State, investigate and bring to book whoever found culpable of any sharp practices or negligence that could cause further occurrence.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Dr. Ola Oresanya who also at the meeting described the incidents as ugly development, which must be nipped in the bud.
Earlier, a team consisting of Mr Femi Ogunbanwo, Mr Ola Oresanya, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Engr. Rasaki Ojetola and other government officials had visited different sites of the explosion and some gas plant outlets.
The team shut two of the plants in Omida and Idi-Ori in Abeokuta metropolis.