In response to the recent gas explosion in Ogun State, the Nigerian government has established new licensing requirements for gas companies.
The announcement was made by Ekperikpe Ekpo, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), during his visit to Abeokuta, the state’s capital.
After evaluating the damage caused by the CNG explosion at Ita Oshin last Saturday, which resulted in at least one fatality and multiple injuries, Minister Ekpo emphasized the need for future gas license applicants to have the capability to directly pipe gas to consumers, eliminating the need for virtual transport.
He also assured that those affected by the explosion would receive compensation.
“As the federal government, we are trying all we can to ensure we reduce the virtual transportation of gas because of its volatility, especially with the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano pipeline.
“I have directed the authority chief executive that for any further issuance of a licence, the company should be competent enough to pipe it to their end users so that we are no longer exposed to this kind of danger.
”As a ministry, we are looking at how we can reduce a lot of virtual conveyance of gas. That is why we are putting much effort into developing the gas pipeline infrastructure so that the transportation would not be virtual but through the pipelines.
“This will reduce this kind of incident and remove the pressure on our roads,” he stated.
