Nineteen illegal Category D cooking gas and liquefied petroleum gas outlets in Delta state have been closed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
Operators of Category D LPG refill gas from authorised facilities for consumers to pick up at their locations, The Punch reported.
Speaking to reporters in Warri on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, Victor Ohwodiasa, the NMDPRA coordinator in Delta, disclosed that the illegal gas outlets had been shut down for the past two weeks.
According to him, the affected stores were located in Warri, Ogwashi-Ukwu, Orerokpe, and other nearby areas.
Ohwodiasa stated that the illegal gas outlets were shut down for various reasons, including their hazardous locations and lack of necessary permits.
He said:
The NMDPRA coordinator emphasised that the goal of the exercise was to guarantee small-scale gas business owners operate in a safe and secure environment, not to irritate them.
He advised landlords not to give space to Category D LPG businesses that want to use their properties for illegal activities.
Ohwodiasa added:
He promised that any infractions would result in legal repercussions and that the regulatory body would continue its enforcement activities throughout the state.
Additionally, he threatened to turn over criminals to security services for punishment if they refused to move their facilities.
The coordinator appealed to the public to report anyone engaging in illegal gas transfers to the NMDPRA for prompt action, saying, “Help us to serve you better.”
The development comes after the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that the average price for refilling a 5kg Liquefied Petroleum Gas (cooking gas) cylinder in Nigeria stood at N7,177.27 in December 2024. This represented a 1.26% increase from the average price of N7,088.16 recorded in November 2024.
TimesNow.com.ng earlier reported that global and regional energy leaders and stakeholders would converge in Lagos at the 6th West Africa LPG Expo 2025 to forge a path towards West Africa’s clean energy transition.
This flagship event solidifies its reputation as the foremost platform for advancing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a transformative energy solution for the region.
Building on the success of the past two editions, which attracted over 3,000 industry professionals and more than 80 top speakers, the 6th West Africa LPG Expo 2025 is poised to be the largest.
Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at TimesNow.com.ng.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
