FG reiterates commitment to pipeline distribution of gas to investors
Ekperikpo made this statement on Wednesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, aftermath an incident of a CNG truck, that caught fire at Ita Oshin last Saturday claiming one life and destruction of properties.
He said that going forward, rather than trucking to end users, the regulators will emphasise issuance of distribution licences.
“This will ensure that licensed distributors invest in the installation of pipelines to deliver gas directly to end users.
“The shift from trucking to pipeline transportation will not only enhance safety, but improve efficiency and reliability in delivering gas to consumers,” he said.
The minister said that he would collaborate with Ogun State government to unravel the root cause of the accident and implement recommendations to forestall future re-occurrences.
“I am committed to growing the gas space, but however I can assure you that every effort is being made to prevent such accidents as this one from occurring in the future,” he said.
The Minister commiserated with families affected by the tragedy and Gasco Marine Ltd, owners of the gas truck.
He also commended the swift response of fire service personnel, and first responders, in the aftermath of the gas explosion even as he reiterated his commitment to grow the gas space.
The Governor of Ogun, Mr Dapo Abiodun said that the state transport sector has been tasked with the need to look out for the eligibility of trucks road worthiness.
“We are going to put in place a policy to ensure that we enforce the road worthiness of those trucks and begin to look at issues bordering around standards.
“Standards that will govern and assure us of the quality of the trucks gas cylinders,” he said.
The Governor said that if CNG was not safe it would not be happening in other countries of the world.
He said that with every new innovation and initiative, there were bound to be bumps in the process of presentation.
“So, we consider this a minor bump that we are definitely going to learn from.
“I assure you of our commitment and determination in working with you to make sure that this initiative we are championing succeeds in ensuring that we go green in Nigeria,” Abiodun said. The Minister’s entourage includes the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, members of the Minister’s technical team and officials of the NMDPRA
