Kwara Govt To Stem The Tide Of Upsurge Of Petrol & Gas Stations

The Kwara State Government has again vowed to stem the tide of upsurge of petrol stations, as well as liquidified gas outlets within Ilorin metropolis and environs, to regulate the activities of dealers, in the State.

The Executive Chairman, Kwara State Geographic Information Service, Esv.Abdulkareem Babatunde Sulyman, stated this during the week, when he played host to the management staff of the Nigerian Midstream and Down stream Petroleum Authority (NMDPRA), Kwara state branch, in his office.

The Executive Chairman emphasised on the fact that, KW-GIS has a role to play in curtailing the unwholesome practices of turning any available space to filling or gas stations, especially within Ilorin metropolis.

Sulyman warned that, government has long placed embargo on citing filling and gas stations in the metropolis, adding that, “the Executive Governor of Kwara State is not happy about this. You are therefore warned to desist from arbitrary citing of gas stations in the state henceforth.”

The Chairman stated further that, any application of gas or filling station that falls short of basic requirements ranging from survey plans, environmental impact assessment among others, would be rejected outrightly, as in the past, adding that the system is still intact.

He therefore, sought collaborations with all sister agencies, towards ensuring habitable and conducive environment in the state.

“Government cannot afford loss of lives and property to avoidable fire incidences, on the alter of individual gains.” He added.

In his remarks,  the State Coordinator, Nigerian Mainstream and  Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Engr. Atiku Ibrahim,  congratulated the new Executive Chairman on his well deserved appointment and prayed for Allah’s guidance, through out his tenure of office.

Mr Atiku, aligned with the EC that the only approving agency in the state as it affects physical development is KW-GIS, hence, the need to work as partners in progress to sanitise unwholesome practices in the citing of petrol and gas stations, across the state.

He therefore warned shop owners to desist from letting out shops to gas retailers in their neighbourhoods, hitherto granted for different use.

Atiku therefore advised that a gas retailer could rather let a space in an already existing filling station instead of risking the lives of unsuspected members of the publics.

The Director, Urband and Regional Planning, KW-GIS Tpl. Fatai Alao submitted that, it takes all sister Agencies to collaborate towards curbing the menace of building contraventions, across the state.

The Head of Physical Planning Research and Statistics, KW-GIS, Tpl.Abdulsalam Abdulhakeem, in his contribution said that, the two agencies should always keep in touch with a view to cross fertilising ideas on new operational guide lines, because of the dynamic nature of our society.