Environmental impact: Delta destroys 4, 000 gas retailing outlets

Officials of the Delta State Ministry of Environment have destroyed 4, 000 gas outlets and retailing cylinders within the metropolis of Asaba and its environs over alleged environmental impact.

But John Nani, the State Commissioner for Environment who confirmed this to journalists Friday in Asaba, said the officials acted on instruction by the state government on the dangers the gas liquid poses to the environment, adding that there has been indiscriminate sale of liquid gas within Asaba metropolis especially the cenotaph premises where personalities converge often for programmes.

Expressing deep concern over the huge negative environmental impact the practice portends, the commissioner noted that the act will no distant time stir up carbon toxic diseases, saying that those who have been perpetuating sales of gas liquid in the area violated the economical laws.

He said: “The authority of the environment ministry had consistently warned the gas vendors on the dangers inherent in their business and asked them to shift their base, instead they refused”.

According to him, the evacuation exercise became inevitable following increasing pressure from various stakeholders as well the failure of the affected retailers to co-operate with the authorities of the ministry, maintaining that the destruction of the over 4, 000 gas outlets and cylinders defied all safety precautions, disclosing that the outlets does not have good measures to curtail unexpected situation of fire outbreaks and related hazards in the case of occurrences.

His words: “Cenotaph is a place where dignitaries within and outside the states gather to celebrate important events, yet the people turned it to illegal sale of gas”.

But in a swift reaction, one of the sales boys, ThankGod Ezukwar described the officials’ of the ministry action as wicked when the ministry failed to provide them a place for them to make ends meet, “we are heading to court to challenge the action” he said.