08 January 2025
By Idris Buba
Two deaths, a father and his daughter, have been recorded in the aftermath of gas explosion in which 18 persons, including a pregnant woman, four children, and a couple were burnt at the Orazi axis of the Obio/akpor local government last Saturday.
The man and his daughter, succumbed to death following the severe burns they suffered while others are receiving treatment at different hospitals.
In order to forestall the reoccurrence of such incidents, chairman of Obio/akpor local government area, Ambassador Chijioke Ihuwon, who visited the victims in the hospitals announced a ban on refilling gas within residential areas in the local government area.
” let me say it here and now that henceforth, no one is permitted to run a gas refilling business in residential areas within Obio/Akpor and to ensure that we put lawbreakers to check, a committee would be be constituted to monitor compliance”.
In the same vein, the Mayor of the neighbouring Port Harcourt local government area, Ezebunwo Ichemati, has also prohibited the retail sales of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in residential areas within the Port Harcourt City local government area.
Ichemati, in a statement directed the immediate relocation of all businesses engaged in LPG retail sales within residential areas.
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He also extended condolences to the families of the victims, the Oroazi community, and the Obio Akpor local government.
To ensure compliance, Ichemati’s administration, also planned to set up an enforcement committee.
The move, he added, was to prevent similar incidents in the future and guarantee the safety of residents.
He said, “We sympathize with the victims of the explosion, and it is unfortunate that lives have been lost to such an act.
“In Port Harcourt City Local Government, we are taking steps to ensure that gas retail shops located near residential areas are closed down.
