Against the rising wave in temperature in Gombe State, the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, Gombe Field office has charged petrol stations in the state to observe the safety measures put in place strictly to avoid preventable hazards.
Speaking with journalists in Gombe after a two-day supervision and monitoring of petrol stations in the state, the Operations Controller of DPR, Gombe Field office, Mr Yerima Kollomi, advised all petrol stations to conduct further training for their personnel on safety and security, so as to prevent fire-related incidences in petrol stations in the state.
Mr. Kollomi said the inspection was necessary to ensure that consumers got quality service delivery and also ensure their safety at the stations and their environs.
Mr. Kollomi said compliance with safety measures must be in line with the provisions of the Standard Operating Procedures in the Oil and Gas Sectors, irrespective of the weather.
“We are monitoring and enforcing safety compliance in the state to the letter. The safety prescription for all the outlets are being observed strictly whether with the change in weather or not,” Mr. Kollomi said.
He gave a pass mark for stations visited because he said the DPR had observed only minor difference in delivery.
“All the identified pumps marked as not in compliance with the standard range, we have instructed them not to sell from those pumps.”
He said the DPR had put a mechanism in place to ensure stations that needed to re-adjust their pumps complied with the directive after the supervision.
Mr. Kollomi said his team had been consistent in its surveillance, to ensure standards.
“On the issue of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) we are dealing with that squarely; the LPG cannot be left out because the government is interested in LPG penetration,” Mr. Kollomi said.
He also said his agency was in partnership with security agencies to address the issue of illegal operations of Liquefied Petroleum Gas stations in the state, saying five illegal LPG stations were already undergoing investigations.
Nnenna.O
