By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA—THE Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, yesterday, sealed  19  gas outlets in Ofada, Abeokuta, Isheri-Olofin Sango, Epe,  Mowe  and Magboro areas of Ogun State for allegedly operating without approval.

File photo: DPR official sealing a fuel station

The Operation Controller, Muinat   Bello-Zagi  disclosed this while briefing newsmen at her office in Abeokuta after a closed-door meeting with members of Liquidfied  Petroleum Gas Skid owners Association, Ogun State.

Bello-Zagi said: “The DPR has the mandate to regulate and monitor all oil and gas in Ogun State. We go on surveillance and also create awareness to the people.

“During our surveillance and monitoring, we discovered that these gas outlets were operating without approval. They operate in wrong places, some  operate  under high tension wire, and others operate in residential areas, close to the source of ignition and adjacent to a bakery.”

On the penalty for the erring operators, she said three outlets out of the 19 sealed would pay a fine of N1 million each for allegedly  reopening their shops after they were sealed by DPR.

The Chairman of LPG in Ogun State, Surajudeen Bada who lauded the DPR on its activities, however, lamented the duplication of efforts by many government agencies.

Bada said: “Most of the agencies come to extort money from us. Until we have a body to regulate this  and if the skid operation is eliminated, you can imagine what will happen to gas  supply in Nigeria.”