The Imo State House of Assembly on Thursday, 4th July, 2024, urged the State Governor Hope Uzodimma, to direct relevant government agencies to seal gas plants sited in residential areas in the state.
According to the House, Ministries of Petroleum and Environment as well as Owerri Capital Development Authority, (OCDA) should investigate the proliferation of gas plants and retail outlets with the view to sealing the ones sited within residential areas to prevent further loss of lives and property to gas explosion.
The House also resolved that the House Committees on Environment, ISOPADEC and Oil and Gas should invite officials of Ministries of Environment, Petroleum and those of OCDA, to ascertain the reasons for the proliferation of cooking gas plants and retail outlets in residential areas across the state.
This followed the adoption of the motion sponsored by Samuel Osuji, representing Isiala Mbano Constituency.
Presenting the motion during plenary, Osuji expressed worry that unchecked proliferation of gas plants and retail outlets in residential areas in the state had subjected Imo residents to danger with many lives and property already lost to gas explosion across the state.
According to the lawmaker, operators of the retail outlets dispense their products from 50kg cylinders to their customers with cylinders ranging from 12.5 to 5kg and below, in virtually every street across the state, particularly, Owerri, the state capital, without regards to the safety of lives and property of the people.
He decried the ugly development saying more lives and property would be lost to gas explosion in the state, if left unchecked.
The motion which received overwhelming support of the House, had the Deputy Speaker, Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu, Kanayo Onyemaechi, Chigozie Nwaneri and 10 other lawmakers as co-sponsors
