Fire outbreaks: Minister okays clampdown on erring petrol stations

By Stanley Onyekwere

As part of measures to curb incessant fire incidents in Filling Stations around Abuja, the nation’s capital city, the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has ordered immediate clampdown on erring Petrol Filling Stations.
It was gathered that within three months, about 12 tankers conveying petroleum products have exploded into flames, while 3 Petrol Stations were said to have burnt to ashes, due to negligence or abuses of safety rules by operators.
Consequently, the Director General of FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Dr. Idriss Abbas disclosed the Minister’s order for sanctions yesterday, in Abuja, during the Emergency Stakeholders Meeting.
Abbas, who was represented by FEMA’s Director, Forecasting, Response and Mitigation, Florence Wenegieme, noted that the disturbing situation was created by Petrol stations owners and operators, who have continued to violate basic safety rules.
He added that the sanction which would come in different dimensions was targeted at ending the wanton destruction, because the administration cannot continue to allow unscrupulous business mangers to endanger lives and property.
He said: “ There is a seeming lack of adequate knowledge of basic safety rules, absence of functional fire fighting equipment and trained safety officers in most of our Filling Stations.
“In addition, discharging petroleum products while the premises is already filled with vehicles and other customers waiting, and the activities of black marketers in and around the vicinity of the Filling Stations and highways, are dangerous developments that need to be addressed by all stakeholders to avoid catastrophic outcomes in the near future.
“Based on the above worrisome situation, the Minister of FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, directed that any Filling Stations that records a fire outbreak would be sanctioned as no responsible government will fold its arms and allow loss of lives and property to be the order of the day.