Stakeholder Raises Concern Over Substandard Gas Cylinders

A stakeholder in the oil and gas sector, Mr Fatuyi Olusegun, has decried the growing importation of substandard cooking gas cylinders into the country.
Olusegun, who is the Chief Executive Officer, Sentax Oil and Gas Services Ltd, in an interaction with airport correspondents on Monday, said the development was a grave danger to the country.
According to him, the rise in the entry of smuggled substandard cylinders into the Nigerian market has deterred genuine importers of the product from investing in the business.
“It is not a healthy development for Nigeria to continue to talk of cylinder importation as if the country lacks the capacity to produce cylinders locally.
“It is amazing that a country that produced some of the best LPG cylinders in the world more than two decades ago is now a dumping ground for all kinds of imported cylinders.
“There is a need for collaborative effort among the stakeholders in this regard. While those who have the wherewithal to monitor and maintain their cylinders should be encouraged to do so, others must ensure they evolve a framework in which their cylinders are maintained”, he said.
Olusegun said that most companies that produced cylinders locally have folded up due to unfavourable government policy and inadequate power supply, adding that the situation had discouraged some people from using cooking gas in the country.
The chief executive officer, however, urged the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and NAFDAC to strengthen their presence at the country’s entry points and stop importation of substandard cylinders into the country.

Corlins Walter