On Wednesday, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, led a Federal Government delegation to the site of the recent tanker gas explosion in Ita-Oshin, Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.
The tragic incident, which occurred last Saturday, involved a Gascon Marine Ltd tanker gas truck, resulting in the loss of the driver’s life and the burning of approximately six vehicles and two shops.
Accompanying Ekpo was Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
They were joined by Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, to survey the crash site.
You can also read: Tinubu Sympathises With Ogun Gas Explosion Victims
During the visit, Ekpo emphasized Nigeria’s transition to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative fuel.
He expressed concern that incidents like the one in Abeokuta and a similar one in Port Harcourt might undermine public confidence in CNG’s safety.
Ekpo stressed the importance of maintaining safety standards, particularly in the transportation and use of CNG.
He highlighted the need for rigorous oversight from organizations like the Standard Organisation of Nigeria to prevent accidents caused by substandard equipment.
The minister also announced the government’s intention to reduce gas transportation by road due to safety concerns, directing that future licenses be granted only to companies capable of piping gas directly to consumers.
Farouk Ahmed reiterated the commitment of regulatory agencies to uphold safety standards in the oil and gas industry, emphasizing that incidents should not deter the transition to CNG.
Segun Ogunwunmi, Managing Director of Gascon Marine Ltd, assured officials that his company prioritized safety and had never experienced mishaps due to adherence to stringent safety protocols.
