Business
DPR Seals 42 Illegal Gas Stations In A’Ibom
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Akwa Ibom State sealed 42 illegal gas stations for safety reasons between January and February.
DPR Operations Controller, Mr Tamunoiminabo Kingsley-Sundaye, said the department had also forced 80 per cent of illegal gas stations off the streets in the state.
Kingsley-Sundaye said this yesterday during an interactive session with newsmen in Eket Local Government area of Akwa Ibom.
He said that most of the illegal gas operators had left the streets because they could not meet up with the required operational standards.
“Those that are doing illegal refilling points, over decorating their shops without ventilation are visually off the streets of Akwa Ibom.
“There are positive response for re-sellers, if you go to Uyo, you will see a good number of gas plant operators doing cylinder exchange instead of discounting which is illegal and not required by any standard,” he said.
Kingsley-Sundaye said that a good number of those doing illegal gas stations had left the business to venture into other areas.
He said that the department made them to understand that refilling of gas cylinders stops at the depot and not shops on the streets.
The operations controller said that illegal gas stations were not springing up or expanding, but their business were getting smaller.
“The good thing is that the market is not spreading again, we are trying to resolve the problems that is already created by their increase.
“The department goes to them to enlighten them on the inherent dangers of their operations and we are getting results,” he said.
Kingsley-Sundaye said the department had sensitised Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) operators to ensure that their facilities were constructed, operated and maintained in accordance with the approved technical standards.
He said that henceforth, applications of LPG operators and gas owners would be done online to ease their registration.
He said the department would visit facilities of gas operators to check access and check their safety in the state in the second quarter of the year.
“We will access them and look at the safety provision that are there that will enable them operate safely and the ones that do not meet up the standard, we either ask to upgrade them or ask them to stop for the time being until they do the right thing,” he said.
Kingsley-Sundaye advised landlords to stop giving shops to people operating illegal gas stations in order to guard safety of life and property.
Business
NAFDAC Decries Circulation Of Prohibited Food Items In markets …….Orders Vendors’ Immediate Cessation Of Dealings With Products
Importers, market traders, and supermarket operators have therefore, been directed to immediately cease all dealings in these items and to notify their supply chain partners to halt transactions involving prohibited products.
The agency emphasized that failure to comply will attract strict enforcement measures, including seizure and destruction of goods, suspension or revocation of operational licences, and prosecution under relevant laws.
The statement said “The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised an alarm over the growing incidence of smuggling, sale, and distribution of regulated food products such as pasta, noodles, sugar, and tomato paste currently found in markets across the country.
“These products are expressly listed on the Federal Government’s Customs Prohibition List and are not permitted for importation”.
NAFDAC also called on other government bodies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS) Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Shippers Council, and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), to collaborate in enforcing the ban on these unsafe products.
