From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The Edo State office of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has sealed off 16 illegal gas facilities and filling stations in the state for alleged breach of rules and regulations.
The agency also arrested five suspects and handed them over to law enforcement agencies for prosecution.
The facilities were sealed off in Oredo, Ikpoba Okha, Egor and Uhunmwonde local government areas of the state during a two-day monitoring and inspection exercise carried out by the agency.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the inspection, Engineer Ebi Ogionwo, the state comptroller of the agency said the clampdown was a renewed onslaught against the activities of illegal and unlicensed oil and gas operators in the state.
He alleged that some misguided operators within the investing public went about setting up oil and gas facilities in areas that were not suitable for the business and without necessary approvals from the agency.
He emphasised that it’s an offence for anyone to site such facilities without due approval from the NMDPRA.
He, however, gave the breakdown of licensed gas plants in Edo State as 165 as well as other CNG, auto gas and other industrial gas stations.
The NMDPRA boss explained that the exercise was a continuous one and the purpose of the arrest made was to bring sanity to the operations of midstream and downstream petroleum business in the state.
He, however, warned investors against taking the laws into their hands and going about setting up such petroleum facilities in areas that were not approved by the agency.
He disclosed that the suspects arrested would be charged to court, and if they were found guilty they would be jailed.