By Aichienede Akhabue Goodluck
The popular saying, that man does not go to bed when his house is on fire, is a reference point as regards the issue of indiscriminate construction of fuel and gas stations in Nigeria and Edo State in particular (especially in Benin metropolis).
More worrisome is the imminent and catastrophic implications of such a practice both to lives and properties in such locations where these facilities are sited.
Most developed cities of the world have designated areas for both fuel and gas stations which, oftentimes, are outside their residential and commercial ecosystem.
This they do by taking cognizance of the dangers associated with gas and fuel volatility in times of emergencies like leakages or fire outbreak.
Ironically, the indiscriminate construction of fuel and gas stations in residential areas has become a norm in most parts of Benin metropolis.
Apparently, some previous administrations paid little or no attention, the Edo Development and Property Authority (EDPA) and the Ministry of Lands and Survey seemed to have compromised their standards in granting approvals for locating these fuel and gas stations.
It is based on this premise that various stakeholders and concerned residents of the State have vehemently condemned the obnoxious practice by some of these fuel and gas station owners, whose activities have constituted grave danger to human lives and the environment.
Recently, tragedy struck at Ekenwan Road, Benin City, when a petroleum tanker conveying diesel was offloading its content and suddenly went up in flames and this resulted in the destruction of properties not just within the premises of the petrol station, but also in neighbouring buildings.
Thankfully, no life was lost, but the untold hardship and trauma on affected residents still linger, as their daily sources of livelihood and investments were consumed in the inferno.
There is no doubt that, the increase in the number of gas and fuel stations in the State generates revenue for the State.
However, a situation whereby the activities of these stations are inimical to the safety of lives and properties calls for serious attention and reflection.
Human life, they say, has no duplicate and as such, the safety of lives and property remains sacrosanct and the primary responsibility of any government.
Therefore, as part of its proactive efforts in averting future occurrence of the tragic incidents as well as the need to sustain the gains made in its urban renewal drive through the demolition of illegal structures in the State, Edo State Government, through the Ministry of Physical Planning, Urban and Regional Development, has marshalled out strategies in this direction. One of such initiatives is the Operation Plan Edo which has resulted in the issuance of a notice to all owners and operators of petrol and gas stations to submit their approved building plans to the Office of the Commissioner overseeing the Ministry.
During the Ministry’s recent recertification exercise at Saint Saviour, a commercial centre in the Benin metropolis, the Director, Enforcement and Development Control of the Ministry, Mr. Enabulele, stated “During the exercise, we discovered many anomalies.
“Most of the gas stations in Saint Saviour Road were located in clusters around residential areas. About seven gas stations were on a segment of the road. If there was a fire outbreak, it would result in a huge inferno. The State Government is concerned about the incidence of fire outbreak and the consequence this may have on residents.
“Government encourages intending owners of gas and petrol stations to come to the Edo State Ministry of Physical Planning, Urban and Regional Development, to get their building permits approved before locating gas and petrol stations.”
Some of the gas and petrol stations sealed include Ledor Filling/Gas station, Small Market Filling Station, BW Cooking Gas Station, LPG Gas Station, Oboye Gas Station and two other unnamed gas stations, all situated at the Saint Saviour Road in Benin City.
This move by the Edo State Government is apt in saving the State in the light of the impending dangers which these fuel and gas stations hitherto created.
In the same vein, the recertification exercise will enable the State government to clamp down on illegal and unapproved sites which have been developed by some of these fuel and gas station owners.
Suffice to say therefore that the State Ministry has zero tolerance for illegal structures in the State, a feat the Ministry has effectively and vigorously engaged in within the past months in ridding the State of illegal structures on power lines and other unauthorized places.
The unfortunate gas station incident at Ekenwan Road some months ago has undoubtedly become an eye opener on how to avert future occurrence. As the popular saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine. Therefore, the need for concerted efforts has become imperative and cannot be overemphasized.
Having sworn to protect the lives and property of Edo people, which is the primary responsibility of the government, Governor Godwin Obaseki has vowed not to relent in carrying out his constitutional mandate. Thus, the protection of lives of all Edo residents remains a topmost priority in the agenda of his administration, and the Operation Plan Edo is a right step in the right direction in achieving this objective.
