By SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN CITY — THE panel of Inquiry set up by Edo State Government to investigate the fire outbreak at the Ministry of Higher Education, yesterday, submitted its report to Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

The report raised concern over the indiscriminate siting of fuel stations in residential areas.

Chairman of the panel, Justice Roland Amaize (rtd), said that the panel received 22 memoranda from members of the public and 23 witnesses testified before the panel.

He said “the report consists of the main report and two other volumes. I hope that the recommendations of the panel will assist the government in avoiding a reoccurrence in future.”

He drew the governor’s attention to the danger in siting petrol stations in residential areas, noting that same portends grave danger to the people.

Speaking after receiving the report, Governor Oshiomhole commended the committee and said it would study the report with a view to implementing same.

He said: “I want to thank you for accepting to assist the state government by looking into the possible causes of the fire incident. I am confident that if we learn the right lessons from what has happened, it will be possible to prevent a reoccurrence.

“We will study the report, look at the executive summary and hope the report will help us. I want to thank you for drawing our attention to the possible danger that would arise from indiscriminate approval by the Ministry of Lands and Survey for people to locate petrol stations in residential areas. It is something that we ought to have known. It is a pity that for a long time, the Ministry of Lands and Survey never bothered to do its work.

“It is bad enough when structures obstruct the right of way but it is a serious safety issue when structures like petrol stations are located in residential areas”